Concern over state takeover of schools
According to IOL, changes to the South African Schools Act may wrest power from parents and give total control to the Department of Basic Education. School governing body associations claim the department is systematically eroding the equal-partnership relationship between parents and the state.
"By taking away the responsibilities of parents, there will be a reduction in the quality of top state schools, and the country cannot afford that," Tim Gordon, the CEO of the Governing Body Foundation said, adding that, should the associations' powers be eroded, the quality of education will drop, top public schools will be lost and there will be no safeguard against corruption.
Gordon raised the issue after a government notice signed on December 15 changed the way school governing bodies (SGBs) pay teachers overtime and bonuses. Now SGBs must get the department's permission before making additional-payments to teachers (whether in monetary value or through perks.) SGBs must also explain why teachers should benefit from such remuneration. In the past this was not enforced.
This comes after a court order last month limited the rights of schools to set admission criteria, said Gordon, adding that the third worrying change was Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga's remarks on the appointment of principals: "Sometimes you find that school governing bodies and provincial heads of department aren't keen on the same candidate, and this causes friction," Motshekga said. "So we will try to find a way that in certain cases we can give power to heads of department to appoint principals," she said, according to IOL.
Read the full article on www.iol.co.za.
