Lesufi calls for change to SA Schools Act
MEC feels governing bodies should not play role in hiring principals
Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has called for the amendment of the Schools Act to strip governing bodies of their power to play a role in the appointment of principals.
In an interview with Sowetan this week, Lesufi listed the act as among the key “stumbling blocks” he has encountered in his bid to transform public schools in the province.
The SA Schools Act gives school governing bodies powers to recommend who the department appoints as principal or teachers of their schools.
Lesufi has had to put out several fires in various schools following disputed appointments of principals, including at Klipspruit West Secondary School recently.
“I really believe it’s now time to review having SGBs appoint principals,” Lesufi said.
“It’s a professional post that needs professionals to evaluate who’s the best person to do that. A school stands and falls on a good principal.”
However, the National Association of School Governing Bodies has defended the role played by SGBs in the process to appoint principals.
“We vehemently oppose that sentiment as expressed by the MEC because we feel everybody as long as the laws allow should play a role in the appointment of principals,” its general secretary Matakanye Matakanye said yesterday.
Matakanye said if the SGBs did not play a role, principals would be imposed on them.
“The SGB recommends to the director-general of the department a person who we believe is capable to lead our schools, and that should continue,’’ Matakanye said.
Disputed appointments of principals have led to protests which affected schooling in the province, with Klipspruit West, south of Johannesburg, now subject to an investigation by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
Motshekga is investigating whether proper processes were followed in the appointment of a black principal.
This follows protests by the community which accused the biggest teacher union, the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), the department and the school’s former SGB of not adhering to proper processes.
Sadtu also shot down the MEC’s proposal.
Sadtu spokeswoman Nomusa Cembi said: “The participation of SGBs is part of strengthening democratic participation of parents in the education of their children. We say this should be strengthened instead of being diminished.”
Cembi said the department should empower SGBs so “they cannot be easily manipulated”.
‘‘ SGBs part of strengthening democratic participation of parents