BROKE? NO WAY!

Crescent denies insinuations that the school has no money

Board Chairman of Crescent School in Lobatse Mohammed Jada says their school is not broke as alleged by some of their disgruntled employees they have money but are holding it back for future use, he says.

Jada was responding to the school’s unhappy teachers who last week informed The Midweek Sun that they have reliable information that the school has no money, a result of which they were not getting any salary increase this year and as has happened over the past couple of years.

“Having no money for salary increase does not equate to not having money at all. The school has not made any increases in school fees since 2019, and as a result of the fees not being increased, salary increases cannot be guaranteed,” he said. He added that as per teachers’ contracts, increments are feasible where funds permit. He assured that should school fees be increased and costs permitting, the board as advised by the accounts department, may consider an increment in teachers’ salaries.

As for sports equipment not having been purchased for three years at the school, Jada said contrarily, this was done as recently as 12 October 2022, and July 2022. Prior to that, the school was not allowed to play sports, as per government regulations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Over time, sports equipment will be maintained to improve our facilities.”

In a letter he wrote this month to teachers, he lamented that school equipment had been lying on the fields unattended. He had called both teachers and students irresponsible, stating that they will only talk about the school not having sports equipment after they show commitment that the equipment will be safely stored and utilised appropriately. The board chairman also refuted claims that the procurement wing was corrupt, which led to the school finding itself without money. “As per our outsourced accounts department, who is also in charge of procurement, a process of acquiring three quotations for any purchase, excluding utilities, has been implemented. “From the three quotations presented, both price and accessibility are determining factors for what can be purchased from whom. The school is not a government institute; therefore, no tenders are awarded,” he said. Medical aid is not capped at P500 as also alleged. He said that, each individual at Crescent receives 50 percent of their premium from the school.

Jada explained that 80 percent of the money from fees collected every term is redirected to the teachers’ salaries. The remaining 20 percent is spent on costs and financial reserves for the school.

He assured that they are not selective on which students to kick out for failing to pay school fees as was also alleged. For students who are not removed from the school premises, payment plans or a commitment to pay within a stipulated amount of time would have been made by the parents with the school.