Concern as SGB elections launched

THE department of education has launched next year’s school governing body (SGB) elections.

The launch, which took place on Thursday, comes amid the proposed amendments to the Schools Act that seeks to restrict who has the final say on pupil admissions, teacher appointments and for the department to determine a school’s language policy.

The Basic Education Amendment Bill was published last month and the cut-off date for the public to submit written objectives was set for November 10.

The draft bill has caused an uproar, with some saying it will “strip” the SGB of its powers.

The launch, themed ‘Play your Part’, was held at the Grahamstown Monument in the Sarah Baartman education district.

Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch, the chairwoman of the National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) in the province, Phelokazi Mapundu, said the role of the SGB was still relevant and was much-needed at schools.

“No department can run a school and determine the language policies of a school they know nothing about. We, the parents and the community know what is best for our children’s education,” she said, adding that plans were afoot to ensure the proposed bill was not promulgated.

The provincial education department’s electoral officer for the SGB elections, Pula Mtila, said the objective of the launch was to raise awareness of the upcoming elections as the term of the current body comes to an end in February next year, with the elections set for March.

Meanwhile, Basic Education spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said once the draft bill had been introduced into parliament, it would then be referred to the Portfolio Committee on Education.

“. . . the portfolio committee will, in line with the normal practice, once again call for comments on the bill. Moreover, the portfolio committee may hold public hearings in keeping with the normal practice,” he said. — arethal@dispatch.co.za