Parents gathered at Brindhaven Primary School in Lotus Gardens to demand the removal of the principal. Picture: Thobile Mathonsi/African News Agency (ANA)
Pretoria - Parents and residents of Lotus Gardens in Pretoria want the principal of Brindhaven Primary School removed from his post.
They gathered at the school this week to make their voices heard, accusing the principal of mismanagement and corruption.
According to them, among their problems was the state of the school, which was dilapidated and had deteriorated within a few years.
They also said the school had an unsafe play area, a hall with broken windows and no doors, and a pavement pathway and open space that was overgrown with grass. The pupils used the open area as a playground.
Among the parents was Mark Peters, who complained about various issues and described the school as hazardous and dilapidated.
“We suspect the principal of mismanaging funds. Look at the condition of the school – we have a broken fence. As parents, we come together to make this school a better one, but every time we try, nothing happens.
“The problem is persistent and we have escalated it to the institutional development and support officer, but issues get washed out and nothing happens.”
Kate Tambane said they were there to remove the principal from his position, but were not able to because members of the school governing body were not present.
“The governing body people did not come. We have scheduled another meeting, but we all know that they will not come to it,” she added.
Community leader Shimane Makopo said parents, the community and teachers were not happy and had reported the matter to the authorities, including how the school governing body was not helping.
“We have written to the principal several times, but he never agrees to meet with us. We also received a tip-off about corruption and the school governing body having been part of awarding two companies a tender for the pavement. But the pavement does not even look like money has been spent on it.”
Makopo accused the principal of appointing a school governing body without consulting with the parents.
“The school governing body represents the parents, but then they changed this. Instead of calling a meeting with us as parents to tell us to elect new members, they did their own thing.”
In a two-page letter of concern addressed to the principal and seen by the Pretoria News, the community said: “Our children leave the safe haven of our homes and are left in the hands of the school to be educated safely so that they are equipped to become tomorrow’s leaders.
“Primary school is a vital foundation stage at which our children are given the basic tools required to assist them in their lives. It is with tears in our eyes that we, the community, reach out to you as conditions … deteriorate dramatically.”
The letter also said three learners had been knocked over at the school gate. The incident took place next to a newly operational gate where there was no provision for safety and security.
The letter added that pupils played in a dilapidated hall during teaching and learning time, funds were mismanaged or stolen, and financial statements from the bank had not been disclosed to all members of the school governing body.
“The school is not maintained well and after break-time students from grades 4 to 7 do not return to their classrooms,” the letter read.
The letter also said the nutrition committee had been disbanded.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said they were unaware of the allegations of mismanagement of funds at Brindhaven Primary brought against the principal.
“We have since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this matter,” he said.
Pretoria News