Further teacher blow at Sandringham High

Sandringham High School, which used to be one of the country's top schools, is in a financial mess. Photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

Sandringham High School, which used to be one of the country's top schools, is in a financial mess. Photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published Jul 27, 2012

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Another 10 teachers at Sandringham High School were retrenched on Thursday, meaning all school governing body (SGB) teachers at the school no longer have jobs.

Last week, 12 staff members were retrenched in an attempt to reduce salaries and were told their July salaries would be paid “when the school has money”. Their pension funds were also misused and were spent on salaries. The school said it would “prioritise” pensions and pay them out by the end of August.

The 12 staff who were initially retrenched included seven SGB teachers who are paid by school fees and not the Gauteng Department of Education.

A source said another 10 governing body teachers were informed they would be retrenched on Thursday, meaning the entire SGB teaching staff have now been let go.

Opened in 1968, Sandringham High had a rich history of success in education, producing graduates who became leaders in business, medicine and the arts, said former head boy Benji Shulman.

It has slipped from being one of the top schools in SA to a school that had its principal, Logan Naidoo, suspended pending the outcome of a forensic audit.

It also lacks basic sports equipment and its matric pass rate has decreased by 10.6 percentage points over the past four years.

Gauteng Department of Education spokesman Charles Phahlane declined to comment before a meeting with his department and the school on Monday.

Many parents are allegedly afraid to pay their fees until the outcome of the investigation into Naidoo is completed, causing the school to lose further income.

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