A FORMAL request has been made to the provincial Education Department for an independent investigation into the financial affairs of Grove Primary School.
This follows a parent's query about the school's lack of transparency about its budget and the above inflation rate fee increase of 9.93%. ANC MPL and an alternate member of the Education Portfolio Committee in the legislature, Cameron Dugmore, asked for the investigation yesterday. Muaath Gabier raised serious concerns about the process followed by the School Governing Body last year in presenting the school's budget for 2017.
Gabier launched a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to be provided with information after numerous requests for answers have gone unanswered.
The budget was voted on and passed by a majority of only one parent, he said. Gabier said he was told that about R1.4 million had gone to additional staff payments, through Section 38A of the South African Schools Act, for the payment of additional remuneration by school governing bodies to state employees.
This exceeded the previous year’s payment of R800 000. Dugmore last year tabled a question asking Education MEC Debbie Schäfer to provide a detailed breakdown of the salaries paid to staff members, in addition to their departmental salaries for the 2016 academic year. Schäfer said the department could not comment on the amount of increase or approval process of the budget nor provide information on non-WCED staff.
She said, however, a S38A application has been received by the department, so no additional amounts should have been paid to WCED staff members. Dugmore said that given the economic environment and the financial pressures faced by working parents, the department should have concerns about a school increasing its fees by 9.93%.
“It would appear that parents had to vote on a budget where full disclosure on proposed expenditure was not provided. As you are aware, the Act requires that any section 38A payments must be reflected in the school budget, which is presented to parents.
“If this was not done, as would appear to be the case, surely there should be consequences. What concerns me is the lack of transparency regarding this matter and also what role the responsible WCED officials have played in responding to questions and complaints raised by parents.”
He asked that an independent investigation be launched into the school’s financial affairs and the way officials dealt with complaints from parents. Schäfer’s spokesperson Jessica Shelver confirmed receipt of the request and said Schäfer will discuss this with the head of department.