Parents of pupils at the multimillion rand Mandela School of Science and Technology in Mvezo have joined a battle over the school’s leadership.
The school and provincial department of education have been at loggerheads over the permanent appointment of Pat Toni as principal and over the chairman of the school governing body (SGB).
Toni confirmed he had not received his salary for two months.
Parents are demanding that the district department resolve the matter as soon as possible.
Toni has been acting principal of the school since it opened in June last year.
The school, which cost around R100-million to build, was the result of a partnership between global engineering company Siemens and the Mvezo Development Trust.
Siemens South Africa executive director Rita Nkuhlu said the company was not aware of the situation. “It is a public school, so we take guidance from the Department of Basic Education on how the school should be run, which includes the selection and management of the staff.
Nkuhlu said they would try to get clarification from the Department of Basic Education on the matter.
“We would of course be concerned if the management of the school had to be disrupted under any circumstances, as the ongoing quality education of the pupils of the school is the priority.”
Parents have blamed Mthatha district director Temba Dyasi for the delay in permanently appointing Toni to the position. Dyasi has been accused also of interfering in the appointment of Njiyela Lumkwana as SGB chairman.
Lumkwana is an education development officer and a parent at the school.
Dyasi reportedly sent a text message to Toni saying: “The school must correct the issue of SGB chair otherwise all appointments are stuck.”
Dyasi would not comment when contacted by the Daily Dispatch.
Education department spokesman Loyiso Pulumani confirmed that the appointment of the school principal had not been finalised, and was receiving “high level attention at the district office”.
Mandela school principal battle flares up
The school and provincial department of education have been at loggerheads over the permanent appointment of Pat Toni as principal and over the chairman of the school governing body (SGB).
Toni confirmed he had not received his salary for two months.
Parents are demanding that the district department resolve the matter as soon as possible.
Toni has been acting principal of the school since it opened in June last year.
The school, which cost around R100-million to build, was the result of a partnership between global engineering company Siemens and the Mvezo Development Trust.
Siemens South Africa executive director Rita Nkuhlu said the company was not aware of the situation. “It is a public school, so we take guidance from the Department of Basic Education on how the school should be run, which includes the selection and management of the staff.
Nkuhlu said they would try to get clarification from the Department of Basic Education on the matter.
“We would of course be concerned if the management of the school had to be disrupted under any circumstances, as the ongoing quality education of the pupils of the school is the priority.”
Parents have blamed Mthatha district director Temba Dyasi for the delay in permanently appointing Toni to the position. Dyasi has been accused also of interfering in the appointment of Njiyela Lumkwana as SGB chairman.
Lumkwana is an education development officer and a parent at the school.
Dyasi reportedly sent a text message to Toni saying: “The school must correct the issue of SGB chair otherwise all appointments are stuck.”
Dyasi would not comment when contacted by the Daily Dispatch.
Education department spokesman Loyiso Pulumani confirmed that the appointment of the school principal had not been finalised, and was receiving “high level attention at the district office”.
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