Shadow MEC of Education disappointed at Kibler Park Secondary
Shadow MEC of Education disappointed at Kibler Park by Secondary School for refusing to assist him.
DA member of legislature and Shadow MEC of Education, Khume Ramolifho, left Kibler Park Secondary School disappointed on Tuesday, January 17 – as he had invited the media to document his unannounced visit to inspect the school but didn’t feel welcomed with both hands, because the school principal refused to show him around.
According to Khume, part of his legislative mandate is to visit the school and inspect that Gauteng provincial MEC Lesufi’s department is delivering on promises – and ensuring that infrastructure and sanitation are adequate.
Khume explained that part of his mandate is to make those unannounced visits and have the school principals show him around, so that he can then report to the legislature and make presentations to MEC Lesufi. If there are services still lacking, Khume’s department aims to act to ensure that the shortfall is addressed.
“I’m honestly disappointed because this is a bad experience – that a member of parliament couldn’t do a site visit, because the school principal, Mrs Kelly, couldn’t take me around. I think MEC Lesufi must clarify why, because this is the first time I’ve come across something like this – so it could help if our role is communicated. So far, MEC Lesufi has appreciated our role – since we help provide them with information they might need, to make sure all schools have the necessary prerequisites,” said Khume.
The principal told Khume she couldn’t assist him or talk to him about the school, because she works for the department of education and wasn’t in a position to speak to him – and if he needed to talk, he would have to contact the department of education to speak to the spokesperson, Oupa Bopape.
As a shadow MEC, Khume said he didn’t understand, seeing as he considered the interests of the school as a priority, how it would be helpful to ask a spokesperson at the department of education -about daily challenges and obstacles that were seen and experienced by the school principal, who’s present at the school every week day.
Eventually there wasn’t consensus and Khume couldn’t inspect the school, without the school principal talking him around. Reporters, from as far afield as Soweto (Soweto TV), then left.
As Khume promised to raise his concerns to MEC Lesufi, The Southern COURIER also approached the GED for clarification, as Khume insisted that he doesn’t answer to the department of education, but rather to the legislature.
GED’s response
In terms of section 7 of the Regulations for Safety Measures at Public Schools (Regulations for Safety Measures at Public Schools on Government Notice 1040 in Government Gazette 22754 of 2001 and amended by Government Notice R1128 in Government Gazette 29376 of 10 November 2006), political office bearers and public representatives have a right to visit public schools, in the interest of public accountability.
But this right must be regulated to ensure that schools aren’t disrupted by such visits – and to avoid the politicisation of such visits. This right is subject to reasonable controls, to ensure proper learning and teaching at schools.
If such visits are desired, permission must be sought. A written permission must be obtained from the principal or HOD at least 30 days before visitation – or a shorter period in exceptional circumstances; indicating the date, time and purpose for the visit, plus names of all participants.
The principal shouldn’t refuse reasonable access to a person who has such written permission. Wherever possible, a departmental office-based representative should accompany such visitors.
The only exception is provided for in terms of Section 6 of the same regulation – and it covers members of South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the Minister of Education, MEC for Education in the province or an official of that department; or provincial department of education (staff) who are required in the performance of his/her duties, to enter upon any public school premises – and who produces proof of his or her identity to the satisfaction of the principal or HOD concerned.
So far, we’ve have never had any situations where members of legislature made things difficult for the department or office of MEC Lesufi to deliver services to schools.
Generally, the relationship between the department and members of the legislature is good and we appreciate the assistance that we get from them.
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