Members of school governing bodies empowered
NEWLY elected members of school governing bodies (SGB) in the Ngwelezana circuit have applauded the Department of Education for clarifying their roles and responsibilities.
SGB members, with their school principals, attended an induction workshop offered by the King Cetshwayo District Education Department.
The workshop dealt with issues surrounding the governance of schools.
It was presented by KZN Department of Education’s Sibusisiwe Gcabashe.
She welcomed the new SGB members and stressed the importance of them knowing their responsibilities to foster a culture of teaching and learning at schools.
‘You must govern the school and develop policies, but it is not in your jurisdiction to enforce those policies. Once a policy has been developed, you hand it over to the school principal who must enforce it,’ said Gcabashe.
She also reminded new SGB members that they should remember that their policies must be in line with the South African Schools Act and the Constitution.
She warned against people who accept nominations to serve on SGBs to settle political scores.
‘I understand that some of you have different motives for accepting the nomination, but you must keep in mind that every decision you take must be in the best interest of the learners.
‘Section 29 of the Constitution says everyone has a right to basic education and SGBs are also an organ of the state.’
Dover Combined Farm School SGB Chairperson, Wiseman Mthiyane, commended the Department of Education for organising the workshop.
‘This has been an eye opener and very informative, especially to those of us who serve on the SGBs for the first time.
‘We have seen chaos in many schools where SGB members fight with their school principals because they fail to understand their roles,’ he said.