In the past year Hoërskool Die Burger was mentioned in headlines for all the wrong reasons, including grievous bodily harm and its seemingly ungovernable pupils.
Repercussions, among other things, included seven teachers and one administration clerk being unceremoniously dismissed and the principal, Basie Smit, summarily resigning with a mere 24 hours’ notice. However, the new man in charge holds hope to restore the school to its former glory.
Acting principal Barney Lotter invited the Record to make a surprise visit, which it did on Wednesday 27 May. After being called in from the sports grounds where he instructed groundskeepers about clearing weeds, Lotter invited the Record to his office where he spoke frankly.
“To be honest with you, I know the school I recently started heading is regarded the ‘trashcan’ of West Rand schools.”
He referenced media reports over the past year and academic results below the Department of Education’s (DoE’s) expectations to support his statement.
“However, I want to get the message across to the parents and the general public we’re fighting back, we’re doing our best to turn the situation around, and we invite them to climb the mountain of a challenge with us.”
The former vice principal was formally approached by the D12 District of the DoE to stand in as principal while a suitable candidate is sought.
An important support structure for him, the school governing body, was described as ineffective until a recent election. All portfolios were filled in the SGB, which consists of at least eleven parents, and it is now effective and moving forward, he said.
Former principal resigned with 24 hours’ notice
Lotter said he does not intend to smear former principal Basie Smit’s reputation, though he admitted a lot went wrong under his leadership.
Smit was principal of the school for around seven years and five months and officially announced his resignation 24 hours prior to the school’s farewell event for him on Friday 8 May. He reportedly moved into the private sector, moving his family to Witbank to accept a position there.
“He simply made a career move,” Lotter said.
Priorities in order to turn school’s reputation around
The focus at Hoërskool Die Burger has been shifted to providing “effective, sensible education”, to provide every pupil the opportunity to excel without discrimination based on race, language or previous behaviour, Lotter said.
“Unfortunately a school cannot effectively be managed without the necessary finances,” he told the Record.
He listed priorities as follows:
- Restoring the school’s finances: A shocking percentage of school fees are currently outstanding and Smit elaborated on various measures the school is now “forced to take” to collect fees due. The school is also currently subject of a full forensic audit, as they’ve let parents know in a weekly circular.
- Making their mark in extra-curricular activities: Pupils could not complete their netball and rugby seasons last year and various other extra-curricular activities suffered, Lotter said. He was proud pupils recently completed netball and rugby leagues and has hope to re-establish a keen interest in cultural activities.
- Addressing regular absence from school and class rooms: Lotter has taken a zero tolerance approach to absenteeism and late coming; inviting parents to check in with their children’s register teachers about their school attendance. The school gates are locked strictly at 7.45am, late pupils allowed in only when accompanied by their parents to explain their late coming.
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