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The South African Institute of Race Relations says the dwindling number of public schools is not necessarily cause for alarm.
The SAIRR says the majority of public schools are under-resourced and the closure or merging of smaller schools with dwindling pupil numbers helps to free up resources.
The number of public schools in the country decreased by 9% between 2000 and 2011, to 24,365, according to figures released by the department of basic education.
The Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, and the North West all experienced a decline in the number of pupils at public schools.
