EASTERN Cape education boss Mthunywa Ngonzo has threatened to dock salaries of principals who fail to attend a training programme meant to improve matric results at 10 of Eastern Cape’s worst performing districts.
Ngonzo was speaking at the launch of a partnership programme between the provincial education department and University of Fort Hare (UFH) at East London’s Hudson Park High School on Tuesday.
However, some principals said the department should provide infrastructure in the form of classrooms, water, sanitation and electricity first.
The launch comes after the education department and Fort Hare signed an agreement last month to train school management teams, consisting of principals and heads of departments.
An estimated 1144 principals and HODs will be trained in Libode, Lusikisiki, Mbizana, King William’s Town, Sterkspruit, Butterworth, Idutywa, Mount Frere, Qumbu and Fort Beaufort.
Ngonzo said: “For those principals who do not attend this programme we will deduct the money allocated to them from their salaries.
“We will have to account for any funds allocated to each of you.
“If you don’t attend we will do it,” Ngonzo said to an uproar from hundreds of principals, senior teachers and district managers attending .
The department has allocated close to R10-million to develop teachers this year.
He said the department would also deal with “rotten potatoes” to ensure schools were managed efficiently.
“The department doesn’t want to deal with ‘osiqhele ukwenjenje thina’ .
“We are going to have new habits backed by knowledge and have a desire to do the job.”
Ngonzo said most teachers and officials attending the event sent their children to private and former Model C schools.
“There is an influx of children moving from public schooling to private and former Model C schools, leaving public schools in crisis.
“Those are children of the upper and middle class, including teachers. What happened to our consciences ? The children of the poor are the ones suffering.”
He said the department was also introducing a Principal’s Learning Academy to assist all principals in the province.
Aspects of the training included:
l Curriculum management to ensure pupils succeed;
l Resource management for provisioning of pupil and teacher support materials;
l Human resource management for dealing with staff;
l Finance management to deal with budget matters; and
l Infrastructure management to provide a safe environment for pupils.
University of Fort Hare deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs Professor Lawrence “Larry” Obi said the programme was critical for the development of schools.
The programme would be implemented for two years and principals would also be equipped with computer skills. —
Education SG puts his foot down
Ngonzo was speaking at the launch of a partnership programme between the provincial education department and University of Fort Hare (UFH) at East London’s Hudson Park High School on Tuesday.
However, some principals said the department should provide infrastructure in the form of classrooms, water, sanitation and electricity first.
The launch comes after the education department and Fort Hare signed an agreement last month to train school management teams, consisting of principals and heads of departments.
An estimated 1144 principals and HODs will be trained in Libode, Lusikisiki, Mbizana, King William’s Town, Sterkspruit, Butterworth, Idutywa, Mount Frere, Qumbu and Fort Beaufort.
Ngonzo said: “For those principals who do not attend this programme we will deduct the money allocated to them from their salaries.
“We will have to account for any funds allocated to each of you.
“If you don’t attend we will do it,” Ngonzo said to an uproar from hundreds of principals, senior teachers and district managers attending .
The department has allocated close to R10-million to develop teachers this year.
He said the department would also deal with “rotten potatoes” to ensure schools were managed efficiently.
“The department doesn’t want to deal with ‘osiqhele ukwenjenje thina’ .
“We are going to have new habits backed by knowledge and have a desire to do the job.”
Ngonzo said most teachers and officials attending the event sent their children to private and former Model C schools.
“There is an influx of children moving from public schooling to private and former Model C schools, leaving public schools in crisis.
“Those are children of the upper and middle class, including teachers. What happened to our consciences ? The children of the poor are the ones suffering.”
He said the department was also introducing a Principal’s Learning Academy to assist all principals in the province.
Aspects of the training included:
l Curriculum management to ensure pupils succeed;
l Resource management for provisioning of pupil and teacher support materials;
l Human resource management for dealing with staff;
l Finance management to deal with budget matters; and
l Infrastructure management to provide a safe environment for pupils.
University of Fort Hare deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs Professor Lawrence “Larry” Obi said the programme was critical for the development of schools.
The programme would be implemented for two years and principals would also be equipped with computer skills. —
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