DURBAN - Relatins have broken between the uMlazi District Education department, parents and teachers following the recent sacking of the Comtech High school governing body (SGB) by the district.
Last week, 18 teachers were sacked following allegations they had been employed without qualifications by the disbanded SGB.
The remaining teachers and Linda Hlongwa-Madlala, chairperson of the KZN Education Portfolio Committee, said the teachers had already served at the school for about four years.
On Monday the situation was volatile when parents blockaded the road to the school with burning tyres and rubble.
Their children had stayed away from school after being told not to go to classes via an SMS message.
Addressing the parents and teachers yesterday, an angry Hlongwa -Madlala said whoever was responsible for the strike action by pupils and subsequent closure of the school should be charged by the department.
“The complaints raised by the parents about the current administration of the school were valid,” she said.
“I’ll make sure that something is done about this state of affairs and the district education department in general.
“It would seem that our personal issues are destroying the future of our black children. Whoever is behind this situation must be charged by the department. I’m sure his own children attend Westville Boys’ High while our children are out of class,” Hlongwa-Madlala said.
It is alleged that Mbusi Mvuyane, an administrator appointed after the disbanding of the SGB allegedly by District Director Bheki Ntuli, instructed pupils to stay at home.
On May 15, 18 teachers’ contracts were terminated because of a lack of funds.
Disband
“Those posts were funded by the SGB. There is a problem with how these actions were taken. I remember no meeting held to disband the SGB and processes were not followed in firing those teachers,” Hlongwa-Madlala said.
“If the school was in financial difficulty resulting in staff downsizing, is there evidence to that effect?
“I’m having a meeting with the district director this afternoon and he needs to explain this,” she said.
When contacted for comment, Ntuli said: “Please speak to head office because the administrators were appointed by the HOD.”
Hlongwa-Madlala demanded the matter be resolved immediately and that Mvuyane should be charged for circulating SMSes discouraging children from going to school.
“From what I have been given by all concerned, these children were made to stay at home via SMS and whoever did that should be charged and I’ll be taking this matter up with the MEC.
“I’ll be here at 7am on Tuesday and I want to see all children in classes. This district is interesting because there are no circulars or letters and only SMSes doing the rounds.
“Right now, there is no physics teacher in this school and yet you terminate contracts without replacement,” Hlongwa-Madlala said.
She warned against bringing union and political affairs to school, adding that the manner in which the terminations had been made “raised eyebrows”.
“This is about leadership squabbles and governance. The department is letting this district and these children down.
“Union factions are not doing us any good. If a teacher feels that she or he is deserving of a senior post, then the individual must prove that.
“Don’t involve politics and factions in schools. Teach the black children and prove that you are worth recognition,” she said.
Mvuyane could not be reached for comment and did not reply to messages left on his phone by publication time.
Kwazi Mthethwa, department spokesperson, said the SGB had been disbanded because it had employed unqualified people in non-existing positions.
“In this province, SGBs are run like a scheme where all involved do so with the hope of influencing who gets what tender from government schools.There’s a need for a meeting where all the parties are represented so that all can share information on how the teachers remained at the school for such a long time without proper contracts,” Mthethwa said.