Teachers’ unpaid and learners evicted
One parent said it was frustrating that they now have to find new schools for their learners in the middle of the year.
Following the abrupt eviction and subsequent closure of Kids Milestone Primary School, an independent school in Blue Hills last week, teachers were also told their journey has come to an end.
This has left a bitter taste in parents’ mouths and teachers as they were gearing up for the start of term 3 of the school calendar. However, the process of teaching and learning came to a halt when about 250 young learners were evicted on July 18 allegedly by Bushiri Ministries.
As a result, about 17 teachers and eight staff members have also been told ‘their journey ends here’ by the managing director of the school, known as only Pastor James.
A teacher, who opted to speak to the paper on a condition of anonymity, said they were told their journey ends here by Pastor James on July 24.
“Unfortunately, we were told our jobs are done and we parted ways, however, we shall be given letters as the days go by. They couldn’t print it out due to load-shedding. For now, they said they will ask for vacancies in various schools for the teachers,” said the teacher.
She said it was painful to lose a job like this as there are outstanding June and July salaries. She said when they asked for July salaries, they were told that “Maybe something small will come in our accounts after refunding parents their money without any date and yet they declared that there’s no money (Pastor James)”.
In a bid to find a solution, a series of meetings were then held with teachers, parents, Pastor James and the Gauteng Department of Education to place the learners in various schools nearby. That plan did not sit well with some of the parents, who were not happy that their kids will be placed in public schools to finish off the year.
A parent, who also requested not to be named, said they were being given transfer letters and report cards.
“Unfortunately some learners are still struggling to find spaces. And as parents, we pay a monthly school fee of R1 700 per learner and there are allegations of teachers not being paid on time. It is frustrating that our kids’ education has to be compromised like this in the middle of the year,” added the parent.
MEC for the Department of Education, Matome Chiloane said it is unfortunate that learners will have to endure a delay to the start of term 3.
“Sadly, all these occurrences are unfolding during the start of term 3 which coincides with an important day in the global calendar, Mandela Day, dedicated to a leader who had his best interests on children and education. It is baffling that something like this can happen on this day. Unfortunately, we will not be in a position to interfere in private disputes between the landowners and the school. As such, ours is to prioritise the interest of our learners and parents- which is the provision of quality education. Our officials from our independent schools unit, Johannesburg East and Tshwane South Districts will work tirelessly to identify schools and place all affected learners in an orderly manner,” said Chiloane.
Our officials visited the school today to conduct the necessary assessments for the placement of approximately 200 learners at neighbouring schools. Accordingly, communication with the parents of these learners has begun and we appeal for necessary cooperation. We call upon parents not to panic as the department is attending to this matter.
The paper’s attempts to get hold of Pastor James proved futile as he ignored Midrand Reporter’s WhatsApp query sent to him on July 25.
His phone went unanswered on multiple occasions as the paper attempted to get a comment from him. The last attempt was made on August 8. At the time of going to print no response was received from him.
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/323331/crowthorne-christian-school-is-currently-closed-following-assault-allegations-captured-on-video/
