Martin in school report scuffle
MPL and principal clash over demand for R530 ‘donation’
ABHISHO MPL and a northern areas school principal almost came to blows while angry parents joined in a fracas yesterday over claims pupils’ report cards were being withheld until parents made R530 “donations” to the school. ANC MPL Christian Martin and Astra Primary School principal Desmond Lewis became embroiled in a heated squabble, with the politician claiming the no-fee school was withholding reports until parents had made the donations.
But Lewis insisted it was a misunderstanding and that Martin’s presence at the school was merely grandstanding.
Following the brouhaha, chaos ensued in the foyer of the school, with Lewis asking Martin to leave the premises before he addressed more than 40 parents and guardians in the staff room.
The meeting in the staff room was then disrupted by Martin and parents supporting him, and Lewis asked parents to make their way to a classroom and restricted Martin’s access.
Martin opened a criminal case at the Bethelsdorp police station later against Lewis and SGB chairman Marcel Esbach for contravening and violating the Schools Act.
Lewis said later: “All the parents had previously agreed to pay the voluntary contribution and, should they not be able to afford that contribution, they could offer their services by cutting grass or taking care of a class in the event a teacher is absent.
“We understand that parents in our community are not always able to pay the sum, but we are also struggling to keep our doors open and the children educated.
“This contribution from the parents helps cover expenses like teachers’ salaries.”
Lewis said the parents and teachers had come to an agreement that parents who were unable to pay the voluntary contribution when schools closed on December 7, could do so yesterday and collect the reports.
Martin was contacted by a disgruntled parent who claimed the report of his son in Grade 5 was being withheld because he had not paid the outstanding donation.
Monty Bernado, 41, of Bloemendal, said he was unable to pay the amount.
“I don’t understand why I had to come back to the school on three separate occasions to speak to the principal about my son’s report,” he said.
“It is strange that my other [two] boys received their reports without any hassles.
“I don’t have the funds to pay for the report card, which is humiliating for my child.
“I am now the one who has to explain to my son why he cannot see his results. It is not fair.”
After tempers subsided, Lewis said he did not have to answer to Martin and would not be intimidated into doing what he wants. “I am employed by this community,” he said. “I report to them and have a responsibility to them. I do not, however, work for Christian Martin.
“He wants to show up now after all the turmoil the northern areas schools have been through, and throw his weight around. “He has no business here,” Lewis said. Martin said his presence at the school as a concerned citizen should not bother anyone.
“This issue is not a witch-hunt against one particular school – most of the schools in the northern areas are experiencing the same thing,” he said.
“For 16 years, I have been raising the school fees issue in the legislature and reported the withholding of report cards to district officials and MECs.
“But the most important issue is that the principals are intimidating parents and are rude to authorities, and if they can treat us this way what about an ignorant parent?”
Another parent, Tyrone Botha, 44, who has two children in Grade 2 and Grade 7, said it was unreasonable to expect a school to function without any financial support.
“This is a real issue that we are faced with – our children need to receive quality education and if the school, which is a no-fee paying school, has no other means of financial income our children are the ones who are going to suffer at the end of the day,” he said.
Another parent, Patricia de Vos, 44, of Bethelsdorp, who has two children at the school, accused Martin of looking for attention.
Eastern Cape education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said: “If educators at any no-fee paying school withhold a report because of outstanding money they could face criminal charges.
“It is illegal to withhold a pupil’s report because of outstanding money, even if the school calls it a voluntary contribution,” Mtima said.
After the meeting between parents, teachers and Lewis, parents who were able to do so paid their contribution and received their children’s reports, as did the parents who were unable to pay.
I don’t have the funds to pay for the report, which is humiliating for my child