Allegations of nepotism and financial mismanagement has resulted in over 200 pupils missing learning for the past six days after angry parents shut down a village school in Limpopo
Parents of Makhasa Primary School pupils at Makhasa village outside Malamulele removed the newly appointed principal and two teachers, one of whom is also the secretary of the school governing body (SGB). The SGB is responsible for the hiring of staff.
The community accused the SGB secretary of influencing the appointment of the principal and a grade R teacher. It further claimed that SGB members were never consulted on any financial decision and only received bank notifications about money being withdrawn from the school's account.
A parent, Tsakani Ngomane, who was seen walking with her grade 3 daughter during school hours on Tuesday, said she didn't prepare her for school because teachers did not show up on Monday.
“Since last week our children had been going to school but they couldn't find a single teacher there. After we held a mass meeting with department of education officials, it was agreed that educators would report for duty on Monday but they didn't come,” Ngomane said.
She said the complaints from parents were valid and the department needed to act fast.
“Parents are disregarded on key decisions including appointment of teachers and signing off the money. I'm worried that pupils are losing learning time,” she said.
When Sowetan visited the school on Tuesday, SGB members, teachers and department circuit officials were locked in a meeting. Teachers refused to be interviewed.
SGB chairperson Matimu Nkuna said the removal of the three school officials has left many subjects without teachers.
“The school doesn't have a grade R teacher after we fired her, and many subjects such as maths, life skills, natural sciences and home languages will not be taught as we wait for the department to appoint temporary teachers,” he said.
Speaking after the meeting, Nkuna said they have resolved to resume lessons on Wednesday (Wednesday) while the department investigates the allegations.
“We have resolved that the department should launch a formal investigation into the appointment of the principal and a grade R teacher. Also probe how the SGB secretary influenced these appointments because allegations are that people were lobbied to hire these officials,” he said.
He couldn't deny or confirm the allegations of lobbying on Tuesday.
Department spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene said they learnt about the situation at the school on Friday.
“We are obviously very concerned, especially around the disruption of teaching and learning. The circuit manager has been to the school and still continues to engage local stakeholders,” she said.
“Parents should understand that disruption of schools as a way of raising concerns is self-defeating. It is our children who stand to lose the most, more especially after enduring learning disruptions in 2020 and 2021,” Chuene said.
She said they are ways of dealing with governance concerns without sabotaging the future of the children.
Another resident, Collen Maceke, who led the protest, said they further called for the department to restructure the manner in which appointments are made at the school and also consider hiring people from Makhasa village.
