Cape Town - Cape Flats parents were furious when they found out that a teacher at their children’s school had allegedly faked her qualifications.
The woman had been teaching at the Mitchells Plain school for the past eight years.
Some members of the school’s governing body claim the principal of Wespoort Primary in Portlands, Mr Hendricks, is protecting her, and chased them away when they went to confront him on Tuesday morning.
“He told us to get out and said we are not part of the SGB anymore, but that’s a lie because only the parents can elect the SGB,” said SGB chairman Ebrahim Davids, 48.
Several parents were also outside the school protesting.
Davids, whose son is in Grade 1 at the school, says the SGB found out about the alleged fraud when they were busy revising staff CVs in November.
The woman is one of five grade R teachers at the school.
Davids says four of the teachers lost their jobs this month, while the woman is still employed.
“I have already sent four of my children through that school, this is my first year serving on the SGB and we have since discovered various troubling issues at the school,” he said.
“How could the previous SGBs allow this woman to work here? She knew what the requirements were and told them she had a Level 5.
“Did they not check her CV? She faked her qualifications for eight years teaching there.”
He says her CV, which was shown to the Daily Voice, shows an “incomplete Level 4”, which is the equivalent of a matric certificate.
A “matric results advice” document from the Western Cape Education Department shows she wrote matric in 2010 and passed four subjects – History, Business, English and Afrikaans.
Davids said to teach at school level, even Grade R, a Level 5 Early Childhood Development certificate is required.
He also showed an application form the woman allegedly filled in November to register with the South African Council for Educators (SACE).
“When she heard we were going to take steps against her unfair post, she started applying for SACE registration as she knew she would get into trouble,” he added.
The WCED’s Jessica Shelver confirmed the teacher is not registered with them.
“Please note that our records indicate that we do not have a teacher with that name in our service, and especially not at that school,” she said.
“If an SGB employs a teacher, they have a responsibility to ensure that they have the relevant qualifications and are registered with SACE.”
Hendricks has refused to comment, saying the matter is “private and confidential”.