MEC pops in at Bay schools

Makupula changes oversight visits schedule to address reports issue

EDUCATION MEC Mandla Makupula surprised staff at four Port Elizabeth schools yesterday by popping in to listen, comprehend and advise on issues as part of oversight visits in the district. While Makupula was meant to start his series of visits at Grey High School, his schedule took an abrupt turn when he was told that the principal of Kwazakhele High School was withholding reports due to school fees not having been paid.

Provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said Makupula, along with about 20 representatives from the Eastern Cape legislature’s education portfolio committee and district officials, sat down with the principal.

“The MEC sat in discussions with the principal and while we were unable to ascertain how many reports were withheld, the principal assured the MEC that all reports would be released by the end of the month,” Mtima said.

“Regarding the issue of outstanding payment of fees at the school, the principal said he would sit down with the affected parents and retrieve the outstanding funds.”

Yesterday’s oversight visits saw the delegation visit four schools – Kwazakhele High, and the Machui Primary, Astra Primary and Triomf Primary schools in the northern areas.

The purpose of the annual visits is to assess the schools’ readiness and the challenges facing them in the academic year ahead.

Makupula said: “There will always be challenges, and we are going to schools to listen and advise on the new challenges expected in 2017.

“I’m here from today [yesterday] until Friday. Also, we committed to certain things last year, we are here to find out if we delivered on those promises.”

Speaking on the issues that arose during the oversight visits in the northern areas, Mtima said: “There was nothing in particular that stood out aside from the staff complements and the appointment of permanent staff.”

Prior to the visits, a briefing between the MEC and Port Elizabeth district officials was held at the Port Elizabeth Further Education and Training College where SA Democratic Teachers’ Union provincial task team member Thandaza Koya raised his concerns.

“One of the biggest problems in the district is the fact that it has a Hollywood approach . . . in that everyone is in an ‘acting’ position. We need to fill vacancies to better the state of education in the province.”

Kwazakhele High School could not be reached for comment despite several telephonic attempts yesterday.

Today, the MEC and his delegation will visit Grey High and Grey Junior schools, and Makupula will then have a meeting at the district office with the Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage District Education Forum.

We [will] listen and advise on the new challenges expected