Since the closing of Bishop Bavin School, teachers who reside on the property are now feeling the repercussions and they are seeking justice for what they described as their lives being turned upside down.
The NEWS reported in the June 17 edition that the Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, the Right Revd Dr Steve Moreo, had announced the school’s closure.
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“The school has been forced to close its doors with immediate effect as a result of a financial crisis,” said Moreo at the time.
Chess teacher, Shepard Tinarwo, has been at the school since 2014 which includes a residence on campus.
He told the NEWS he was stunned after hearing his home will be closed down.
“We were constantly alerted on the school’s financial predicaments, but we never thought it would get this far, and be done in such a way.
“Bishop Bavin is a big school. It doesn’t make sense for it to close so suddenly with such a huge amount of debt. This school has become part of me and I have now lost my job, a place to live and my livelihood.
“I have nothing and have only been given three months’ notice to leave with nowhere to go,” said Tinarwo.
He said he is the only bread winner.
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“The Diocese has no idea just how much people depend on me.”
He said he still believes the school can be revived.
“The Diocese could’ve handled the entire situation much better, as there are so many people affected by the school closing,”
School librarian and aftercare teacher Elisa Mahume has a daughter at the school in Grade Four and also resides on campus.
She has been teaching at the school for almost 12 years.
“My daughter is just sitting at home.
“I have no money and nowhere to register my daughter for another school at this point of time.
“The Diocese it seems has no plan to help us.
“They could’ve given us a retrenchment package and at least given us six more months to get ourselves in order.”
Mahume said she has extended family she needs to take care of and her entire life now feels like “one big mess”.
Mahume and Tinarwo believe there has been no transparency in regard to the closure.
“Moreo told us the school has a bright future and within six days he told us the school is closing down,” said Mahume.
“The pandemic cannot be used as an excuse. Last year in September they took away our bonuses and they apologised. We made peace with it.
“They then apparently found investors and we were told not to worry as the school will take care of itself.”
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Mahume and Tinarwo said they were both happy at the school and loved the learners.
“This place was like a family, it was our home,” said Mahume.
“We feel like they are chasing us away with no notice, therefore to make this right we want more time and we want the money due to us,” said Tinarwo.
