School problem angers villagers
Pupils without science teacher for four years
Ekhwezi community members from Ntabethemba village have threatened to lay charges against the district’s education department for its failure to provide a science teacher and committed principal for the Ikhwezi Senior Secondary School.
The school governing body (SGB), ward committee, village headman and parents told The Rep pupils had been without a science teacher for four years and they feared the school would close.
SGB chairperson Ntombizanae Mvimbi said the community had subsidised science teacher Tapera Chikunga with R2 000 a month since 2009 after the school’s previous science teacher was transferred.
Mvimbi said the community was worried that Chikunga would leave as he had received offers from other schools.
“If he leaves, pupils will go to other schools which offer science. Chikunga teaches grade 8 to 12 and is dedicated to teaching.
“We want him to receive permanent employment. The department says there is no post available.”
She said in December they had warned education officials to act quickly to resolve the issue before they took action as the situation had been neglected for several years.
Mvimbi alleged the school principal was often absent for lengthy periods, which further angered the community.
“The principal, Monwabi Ntlemeza, has been here on and off for six years.
“However we are not fighting against Ntlemeza. Our desire is for him to do his job. The department said they would also attend to this issue, which did not happen,” she said.
Kholiwe Bonelwa, a parent, said, “This is the only high school in the village and the neighbouring ones are far away, which means that parents would have to pay for transport if the school were to close.
“Some will not be able to afford this. The number of pupils is already falling.”
The department of education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said the department would investigate the matter further.