School, department in admissions stand-off

RIVONIA Primary School principal Carol Drysdale agreed yesterday to plead guilty to charges of gross insubordination so that she could go back to doing “what she does best – work as a teacher”.

The Gauteng Basic Education Department hauled Drysdale before an internal disciplinary hearing after she refused to admit a pupil to the school last year.

This was after the school governing body argued classes were full and the pupil was fourth on the waiting list.

Department spokesman Charles Phahlane said Drysdale was charged because she ignored the head of the department’s instruction to allow the child in until other officials intervened.

A legal case is before the Supreme Court of Appeal, yet the department went ahead with a disciplinary hearing anyway.

The hearing revolves around technical arguments over whether the head of department had the right to overturn the school governing body’s decision on school admissions, or whether the Education MEC has the final say over how many students a school admits.

Drysdale’s supporters believe she has been targeted for standing up to the department.

Rivonia Primary governing body head Paul Lategan said “the department wanted her dismissal because she stood up to them”.

He said the school governing body was fully behind Drysdale.

Parent Christopher Chilese questioned why a “good principal” was being punished.

“I think a disciplinary hearing should take place if someone’s performance is bad, but she is a good principal.”

During the first day of her disciplinary hearing, Drysdale pleaded not guilty. But yesterday, to avoid substantial legal costs and get back to work, Drysdale pleaded guilty while the department agreed not to fire her.

Drysdale’s lawyer, Dion Masher, said her plea change was done as “a means to an end”.

“She wants to do what she enjoys doing. It is a settlement to allow Carol Drysdale to go back to do what she does best.”

The department wants to issue Drysdale with a final written warning and a one-month salary fine while her lawyer is asking for an ordinary written warning.

Chairman Advocate Terry Motau SC will pass judgment in a month.