Principal causes problem

NGODINI – The future of the learners of Good Shepherd Preschool and teachers does not look promising as they are being ill-treated by their school principal. This is taking a terrible toll on them.

This happened after this paper published an article two months ago when a shocking revelation surfaced that the food that was supposed to feed the youngsters, was given to one of the members of the school governing body whose relatives had passed away.

The principal is alleged to have said she was sold out to the paper by the teachers who later resigned from the school because they couldn’t handle the situation in which they were working. It is alleged that she expelled children who couldn’t afford to pay fees, knowing very well that they couldn’t do so.

Speaking to this paper, a mother who was left extremely upset after she received a letter from the principal of her children’s dismissal, expressed her anger.

“I didn’t know what to do now as I have received the letter from the principal. I must say I was very disappointed in her when she expelled them, because she knew that we were not working and dependent upon a support grant,” she said.

According to one of the teachers who had quit due to the circumstances, “We were tired of being labelled as poor as she used to call us names.”

When this newspaper asked for a social development departmental comment, spokesperson Mr Ronnie Masilela said, “We will investigate the matter and we do not take it lightly.

“Our aim is to support communities and community-based organisations where decisions are made by our board or management structure.”

He continued that its wish as a department was to see all children receiving early childhood development services.

“We will, therefore, as part of our ongoing monitoring sessions, visit the schools to determine what is going on there,” he concluded.