Angry parents stormed Joe Slovo Engineering High School, in Khayelitsha, on Thursday June 7, demanding the immediate removal of acting principal, Boniswa Xonti. Led by the newly elected school governing body (SGB), the parents cited as their concerns, among others under-performance of pupils and teachers, constant break-ins at the school despite 24-hour protection. They also complained about dirty floors and toilets and said it was time for the education department to appoint a permanent principal.
SGB member, Fundiswa Madubela, claimed the school was embroiled in controversies and accused Ms Xonti of failing to improve the school’s image.
“We have nothing against her but we think it time for her to go. “The school is going down the drain while she is there.
There is no school that has break-ins like ours and yet we have security guards. When we ask her, she does not know.
“She also has people that she does not like in the new SGB.
“If she has the interest of this school and our children at heart, she must vacate (the position),” said Ms Madubela.
She added that pupils’ academic performance had also been affected.
“If you could check our children’s books you will be surprised. They are clean,” she said. “Children tell us their teachers are most of the times busy on WhatsApp instead of teaching.
“Children that have cases against them are suspended for four months. Where have you seen such a thing?”
The parents also accused some of the teachers of colluding with Ms Xonti, claiming that a permanent principal had been appointed but teachers had “ganged up” against him.
Parent, Vuyiswa Madibongo, accused the teachers of wanting to do their own things during working hours. “We are not fighting her but we feel that position is just too big for her hence we need a leader,” she said.
Another angry parent, Thembakazi Mankayi, said she was ashamed to look at her child’s books.
“There is nothing in her books. On the IT subject, the book is clean.
“We cannot blame our children if they fail, but ourselves for not acting in time.
“We really need a principal,” she told Vukani.
The SGB said it was prepared to close down the school until a permanent principal was appointed.
Jessica Shelver, spokesperson for Education MEC Debbie Schafer, said the principal post was first advertised in February last year.
She said Ms Xonti who had been the school’s deputy principal, was appointed as acting principal. “There were no illegal appointments as claimed.
“The nomination made by the SGB was not approved.
“The delegated authority therefore approved the post for re-advertisement. These reasons were communicated to the school SGB and the district office,”she said, and refused to answer other questions.