New acting principal at Settlers to turn the ship

The dust seems to be settling at the Settlers Agricultural High School (SAHS) after upset parents spent Wednesday 11 October at the school demanding answers why 35 learners were refused access to the hostels.

Heated discussions were held at times regarding unpaid hostel fees, incorrect statements, the state of the hostels and the quality of food the learners are served, as well as allegations of financial mismanagement at the school.

Officials from the Department of Education stepped in last week with the former principal, Katlego Letswalo, placed on precautionary leave and an acting principal, Fanie Viviers, was appointed in the position. Viviers is the current deputy principal at Eenheid Primary School in Modimolle.

During a meeting with the parents, the department promised parents that they were scrutinizing the school’s finances.

Die Pos reported earlier that learners, who were unable to show receipts of payments on Monday, were not allowed to enter the hostels. This left many learners stranded late into the night, as some of them travel from as far as Bloemfontein or Pietermaritzburg, disgruntled parents said. The parents said on Monday that they received the first statements for the year at the beginning of the fourth term. Others stated that they made payments which does not reflect on the school statement but is on their personal bank statements. They alleged that the accounts rendered were incorrect.

The learners were accommodated very late on Monday night in unused facilities on the school grounds. They stayed there for two nights and did not receive any meals from the school. Parents who drove from Gauteng to Settlers stepped in to provide food for them. After deliberations, the new SGB appointed by the department decided to allow the learners into the hostels on Wednesday night, whilst arrangements for payments were made.

The extended conflict between parents, the former principal, and the former SGB could not be resolved. “We have ceased paying our school fees, as we cannot trust the school’s finance department,” one of the parents told Die Pos on Wednesday. “We as parents have to pay an extra fee for a generator that costs R2,5 million. The parents were never consulted about this and the school cannot even provide us with the generator’s warranty. We annually pay a transport fee, yet the learners do not go on any school or sports trips.”

Another parent said that they are willing to pay what was due, but then they must have the assurance that the record-keeping and expenditure of the money are done correctly. Some parents who were at loggerheads with the previous school management made allegations that some of the people who were responsible for the school’s finances were not suitably qualified and did not even have a matric certificate. The parents shared their concern on Monday about matric learners who are only days away from their final exams and should not have any upheaval.

Dikhuba Lesiba, Deputy Chief Education Specialist for Institutional Government and Learners of the Department of Education in Limpopo, addressed the meeting with parents. He said that the department decided to appoint an acting principal from outside the school so that he or she would not be influenced by what happened before.

“We want to improve and restore the school to its previous high standard. Parents need to understand and commit to paying their outstanding fees. Their children cannot receive accommodation and meals for free. We assure you we will keep a close eye on the management at the school,” he said.

Also read: Parents in uproar due to outstanding fees