RATANDA – Parents have shut down Ratanda Primary School on December 3 in an attempt to force the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to resolve a dispute over the appointment of the school’s principal and deputy principal.
A group of angered parents picketed outside the school, claiming that the principal and some other heads of department do not have the required qualifications. They also accuse the chairperson of the School Governing Body (SGB) of making unilateral decisions on the matter.
The Educators Union of South Africa Gauteng (EUSA) supported this militant move by the parents, saying “it follows allegations of corruption and maladministration by corrupt managers at the circuit.”
“Rumour had it that it became known who the new principal would be, even before the position had been advertised,” EUSA secretary Kabelo Mahlobogwane said.
“Things came to a boiling point when the SGB chairperson started scheduling meetings without following the correct procedure. The SGB treasurer and a two-teacher component started raising questions, but they were sidelined,” he added.
Mahlobogwane went on to say that the complaints raised to the GDE boils down to the two appointments that followed when a committee was formed to shortlist and interview candidates without proper consultation of the other SGB members.
“They scheduled their own meeting and failed or neglected to inform other relevant SGB members such as the teacher component thereof. The recommendation to permanently appoint two new educators were therefore only made by the IDSO and SGB chairperson, which results in non-compliance of the constitution,” Mahlobogwane reiterated.
A parent and also member of the school’s SGB Petrovah Mashinini told HERAUT that after some teachers who showed their support by signing the dispute, were allegedly threatened by the GDE district manager, EUSA was approached for assistance and guidance.
“We want the best education for our children, but we feel that the school’s constitution was not consulted properly in neither the election process of the SGB, or the appointment of the acting and deputy principals,” she said.
Mahlobogwane told HERAUT on December 4 that in accordance with an agreement reached between the relevant parties two months ago, it was said that the newly appointed deputy principal will be withdrawn from the school until such time as investigations into corruption and maladministration relating to the positions of the principal and deputy principals have been finalised.
The Department of Education has however, rubbished claims that the principal was not properly appointed.
“In the case of Ratanda Primary School, the department has complied with the recommendations of the SGB. There are some rumours stating the acting principal is unqualified and that her appointment does not meet the criteria, but we can confirm that this is not true. Her appointment meets all criteria and it corresponds with her previous appointment as principal of Homevale High School where she gained the necessary qualifications, skills and expertise. Our district officials met with the parents and members of the SGB and we have resolved that schooling will resume normally as from December 5,” GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said in reaction.
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