“The department is closely monitoring the situation and will ensure that all outstanding examinations are not compromised as a result of the ongoing unrest at the school”.
Those were words from Steve Mabona, the Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson, commenting on yesterday’s (Wednesday, 19 November) shutdown at Tulip Combined School at the Roodepoort CBD.
Matric learners had to write their exams at a neighbouring school after community members and parents decided to lock down the school in support of the suspended principal, Noluthando Nyandeni.
Read the initial article here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2019/11/20/community-protest-in-support-of-suspended-principal/
Ms Nyandeni, who is a director and one of the founders of the school, was earlier accused of being incompetent by two other directors, an accusation which she rubbished. She described the conflict as victimisation because she’s a black woman.
She last reported for duty on Wednesday, 13 November, as instructed by her lawyer.
A preliminary investigation into the matter by GDE found no evidence to substantiate the allegations levelled against Ms Nyandeni.
Mabona said, “We have tried to intervene but the board of directors refused to meet the department on 12 October, citing that the matter is with their lawyers”. He added that their aim was to protect quality teaching and learning time.
