Cape Town - A group of teachers from a Hout Bay school showed their opposition to the Western Cape Education Department’s new collaboration schools pilot project during a protest on Tuesday.
Oranjekloof Primary is one of five schools included in the project, which connects underperforming schools and schools in marginalised communities with a partner, with the aim of improving the quality of education at these schools.
The Department of Education will continue to provide funding to the schools and donors would also provide financial support as well as human resources.
At Tuesday’s protest, the teachers held up posters that read: “#Collaboration MustFall” and “Away with privatisation of public schools”.
Jonavon Rustin, provincial secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union, said the teachers were unhappy about a lack of communication about the project.
They were also concerned because the partners would constitute the majority of the school governing body, which would mean that they would run the school’s finances and have significant influence over the appointment of teachers. Another concern was what the partners’ role would be in the implementation of the curriculum.
“We support the teachers of Oranjekloof. We reject the statement made by the MEC of Education Debbie Schäfer earlier this week that the project is good for communities. The governance of schools should be in the hands of parents.”
Millicent Merton, a spokeswoman for the department, said they and the operating partner had kept teachers fully informed.
“We are happy to continue discussions.”
She said the powers and duties of the governing bodies would remain the same.
“These include supporting the principals and teachers in the performance of their professional duties.”
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