The Gauteng Department of Education invites all parents and guardians of children in public schools to make their voice heard by participating in the 2018 SGB Elections.
The three-year term of the current SGB members ends on February 28. The Elections take place from March 1-31 in all schools. This will be the ninth cycle of SGB Elections since 1994. They are the third largest elections after the national, provincial and local government election.
SGBs are elected for a term of three years and comprise of the parent component, educators, the school principal and learner representatives at high schools.
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The role of the SGB is to support the Principal with amongst others; financial administration, maintenance of the school and recommendation of appointment of staff. However, they are not allowed to interfere with the daily running of the school and curriculum management.
The following stakeholders can be elected onto the SGB:
• Parents of learners at the school
• Educators at the school
• Members of staff at the school who are not educators
• Learners in secondary school.
The election process begins with a nomination meeting of each stakeholder. This is followed by an election meeting of each stakeholder which requires a 15% quorum.
Voting by secret ballot will be held if there are more nominees than the required numbers. However, if there is a required number per stakeholder, they are considered as duly elected.
Elections are managed by the Department of Education assisted by IEC and Corruption Watch. The Department appoints school electoral officers at the school, district and provincial level.
The electoral officers are charged with running the elections assisted by electoral teams at the school district and provincial level. SGB associations observe elections to ensure they are free and fair.
Any voter can declare a dispute with the Presiding officer if they are not satisfied with the outcome. It is then incumbent on the Presiding officer to resolve the dispute. Anyone not satisfied with the decision of the Electoral Officer can escalate the matter to the District Electoral Officer.
The SGB will elect office bearers such as Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer at its first meeting convened by the school Principal. The Principal cannot hold a position in the SGB but serves in an ex officio position.
Under the theme, “Be Active, Be Principled, Vote wisely – Njalo!” the department seeks to mobilise civil society to get involved in their children’s education. SGBs are crucial for participatory democracy and ensure popular participation by parents, learners and educators in the governance of the school.
The SGB Launch took place at a public meeting with SGB Associations and other stakeholders at the Seshegong Secondary School.
Speaking during the launch, MEC Lesufi put emphasis on the important role all parents regardless of background, can play in the governance of the school.
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“Your role as a parent, regardless of your race or background, is critical because it will assist the department to improve learning outcomes and enable us to reach the goal of providing quality education in all our schools,” said MEC Panyaza Lesufi.
The department will host SGB Election District Dialogues from February 13-28, to create awareness on the elections. Parents are encouraged to attend the dialogues to register their voice on the role of SGBs.
Information regarding the SGB Elections will also be distributed through school assemblies; school newsletters; door-to-door knock and drop by GDE officials; loud hailing; pamphlets and radio adverts.
We urge parents to look out for our teams who will be deployed for blitz and distribution of SGB information at identified hotspots.
Active participation by all parents will ensure that the principal, educators and other staff of the school receive adequate support in the performance of their professional functions.
It will also encourage other parents, learners, educators and staff at the school to render voluntary services to the school. We also need SGB members who understand that the role of SGBs is to promote the best interests of the school and strive to ensure its development through the provision of quality education for all learners at the school.
