Hopeville Primary SGB election discontent
DISGRUNTLED parents and community representatives staged a placard demonstration outside the Department of Education’s Phoenix circuit office on Monday, calling for the postponement of Hopeville Primary’s school governing body (SBG) bi-election scheduled for today .
A parent and community activist, Stanley Moonsamy, said they met the chief education superintendent of the Mafukuzela Gandhi circuit, Mr SSS Lushozi, in December 2018 and at the time a decision had been taken to recall the SGB.
“The SGB went to the media accusing the school management of misusing funds. As parents, we only found out about the allegations when we read about it in the newspaper. This was not right. As parents, the SGB should have notified us first.”
Moonsamy said the meeting, which was chaired by Lushozi, included school management members and a handful of SGB members and parents wanting answers.
“The chairman of the SGB was not present and the members who were at the meeting, could not provide us with answers.
“At that meeting, Mr Lushozi took a resolution to dissolve the current SGB because they failed to report to parents what was happening at the school.
“It was also decided that a new committee would be elected in the new year. Since that meeting, the SGB has not been active at the school,” said Moonsamy.
However, the situation came to a head a few weeks ago when the school issued a circular advising that the SGB elections for two vacant posts were scheduled for March 6.
“I attended the meeting, and parents objected to the election taking place on the basis of the re-election of the SGB. The meeting was then postponed to March 13.”
Moonsamy said he handed over their concerns to LP Swart, the head of the circuit, and the meeting for March 13 had been postponed until further notice.
“We need an SGB that is transparent in the running of the school. I have even asked to see the financial statements but it has not been forthcoming. We need an SGB that is going to work with school management, parents and the community.”
Spokesperson for the Department of Education Muzi Mhlambi confirmed the meeting had been postponed and said the concerns of parents were being dealt with by the circuit.
The SGB had not responded to questions by the time of publication.