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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West has written an urgent letter to the MEC for the Department of Education, Wendy Matsemela, requesting the immediate disbandment of the School Governing Body (SGB) of the Potchefstroom Boys High School for failing its mandate of prioritising quality learning at the school.

This follows alarming findings during an oversight inspection to the school this week, of which the biggest concern is that the school is unable to open for the academic year on 15 February 2021.

It came to our attention that SGB members are overstepping their legal mandate by interfering with the daily operations of the school, which includes changing the academic timetable, unfairly suspending staff and haphazardly issuing and revoking employment contracts.

The school’s Bursar has been suspended by the SGB for an entire year without a disciplinary hearing, which has had a devastating impact on the financial management of the school.

Subsequently, the SGB has spent at least R160 000 on legal fees for representation at the CCMA in the previous financial year.

The situation is worsened by the fact that the school has no approved budget for 2021. While Educators returned to school on 1 February, the lack of a budget has stifled all preparations for the return of learners.

With less than a week before schools are scheduled to open, 14 Educators appointed at the school are still awaiting appointment contracts and are unsure of their positions, while 4 vacancies are to be filled.

Over the last 36 months, at least 17 teachers have resigned from the school, of which some are due to the favouritism displayed by the SGB. It is alleged that certain teachers who fail to submit progress reports, learner assessments and poor learning outcomes, are protected by the SGB.

In October 2020, the Department of Education conducted an investigation at the school following complaints raised by the staff, but to date, the outcome of the investigation has not been revealed to the School Management Team. Instead, a report has been submitted to the SGB, which suggests political connections between SGB members and the Department.

This allegation is strengthened by the fact that approximately R2 million in school funds have been mismanaged in the last financial year without the Department lifting a finger to intervene.

The MEC cannot be a spectator to the demise of a school with a proud 115-year history, while the SGB bullies some teachers, protects others, and fails in their legal mandate at the expense of the learners.

The Department of Education has already delayed the opening of schools across the country in order to ensure compliance with all Covid-19 protocols and any further delays will not be in the interest of learners.

Issued by The DA