Makupula under pressure

Premier Phumulo Masualle has given education MEC Mandla Makupula until March 1, to appoint permanent principals for all schools.

This follows yet another heated meeting with all his MECs to address several issues.

Eastern Cape government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo confirmed yesterday that the premier “met with his executive council (exco) in Bhisho (on Wednesday) to discuss a number of issues affecting governance in the province”.

One of the key issues discussed, he said, was the disruption of schooling in Nelson Mandela Metro.

Parents from Port Elizabeth’s northern areas have instructed their children not to attend school since the beginning of the new term until the education department deals with overcrowding in classes and fills vacant teaching positions in all the 52 affected schools.

By his own admission, education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said there were 1665 level 1 vacant teaching posts in the province, including those of schools in PE’s northern areas. Our sister paper The Herald quoted Mtima saying: “As we speak, we are placing teachers at each school.”

Kupelo said the exco “has expressed concerns regarding the continuing disruption of the schooling in northern areas of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro

“All parties involved are urged to allow the culture of learning and teaching to continue while their complaints are being attended by the provincial government and education department,” he said.

“The department of education will ensure that by March 1 all schools have appointed permanent principals across the province.”

The commitment to force the department to hire principals comes in the same week that Makupula was taken to court by eight Eastern Cape schools over his department’s failure to pay teachers’ salaries.

The schools, including Grens Pre-primary, Sterling and Nahoon primary are demanding that the education bosses repay the schools for the payment of monthly salaries, some of which date back to the first school term of 2011.

Makupula will also appear at the Port Elizabeth Labour Court today or face arrest or a fine. He is being asked to explain why he should not be charged with contempt of court for failing to comply with a court order made last year to permanently appoint maths and science teachers at Alphandale Secondary School.

Kupelo said another problem crippling schooling in the province was teachers taking prolonged sick leave. “The department has been instructed to take decisive action against those who take sick leave while running private businesses.”