A group of concerned parents halted teaching and learning at Noxolo Xauka Primary School, in Makhaza, accusing the teachers of lawlessness and of fighting personal battles when they should be teaching.
They added that some teachers no longer attended classes, while others came to school drunk.
On Thursday November 2, the angry parents sang and picketed outside the school premises and vowed that the school would be closed indefinitely until their grievances were addressed.
They said there were those who were determined to maintain instability at the school, with some teachers fighting to have the acting deputy principal removed.
Parent Asimanye Makayi said the deputy principal had been hijacked on school premises in August, a month after stepping into the position.
Since the incident, she said, the deputy had not set foot on the school premises again.
Ms Makayi said there had been problems at the school since the start of the third term, but in October things got worse and accused teachers of undermining the parents.
She added that, on several occasions, they had tried to arrange a meeting with the teachers but had been unable to.
Ms Makayi said in October they raised their concerns with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) but the parents were told there was nothing they could do.
Ms Makayi said they were concerned about the education of their children and that the infighting would have a negative impact on their children.
“We want teachers to be teachers and that is their job.
“The school is not functioning the way it used to. We are stepping up for our children’s education,” she said.
Another parent, Nosisa Mkhoba, said they wanted the teachers who instigated the infighting to tell them why they should not be removed from the school. She said they were all concerned about their children’s future.
Jessica Shelver, spokesperson for Education MEC Debbie Schafer, said an independent investigation would be conducted into what happened at the school. She said the investigation would look into a number of things including the appointment of the deputy principal.
“The school is an exam centre for Grade 12 candidates, and the fact that the parents chose to disrupt schooling and exams so that pupils had to be moved to another centre is absolutely unacceptable,” she added.
