The Tsitsikamma Primary School has continued to operate and offer education to over 100 learners despite the various challenges faced at the school, which include the Department of Education’s plan to convert the school to a high school, allegations of dishonesty within the School Governing Body, and the removal of over 70 learners due to the prevailing uncertainty.
An anonymous, concerned parent said that the school had functioned as a primary school for many years; however, with no high school in the area, he alleged that in 2019 the department began discussions with the school to convert it into a high school.
As a result he enrolled his daughter, who is currently in Grade 2, at a nearby primary school at the start of the year.
“The parents knew that the school was going to be converted to a high school by 2024. Many parents removed their children from the school to ensure that they continued to receive education,” he said.
Concerned about the situation at the school, he has continued to make regular enquiries and has been keeping up with developments.
He said that earlier this year Grade 10 learners stood waiting to enter the school to register at the “new high school”, but were referred to the Nompumelelo Community Hall in Tsitsikamma, where they have continued to be taught.
“Since there are approximately 150 to 160 Grade 10 learners, some of the learners are taught inside the community hall while others are expected to be taught outside,” he said.
“To make matters worse, there are toilets available, but no running water at the community hall.”
He further said that the hall is frequently booked for community events, which has led to numerous missed school days.
To add to the frustrating situation, he said he believes that Tsitsikamma Primary can accommodate the Grade 10 learners, but has chosen not to assist.
He said the primary school’s SGB has resisted converting to a much-needed high school, and has accused the committee of dishonesty.
Further elaborating on the allegations of dishonesty, he said that the school rents a portion of their property to a local farmer, and in turn receives money from the farmer.
“The SGB at the primary school is benefiting from the money they receive from the farmer, and they therefore do not want the school to be converted into a high school,” he said.
Despite it being a no-fee school, he said that the SGB chairperson, Burton Mlandu, has encouraged parents to pay between R50 and R100 towards the school each month.
Mlandu said that to stop the department from converting the primary school to a high school, they successfully filed an interdict at the Gqeberha High Court in April.
“We have continued to operate as a primary school and have received no further communication from the department,” said Mlandu.
“The department has given the school no proper reason as to why they wanted to convert our school into a high school,” said Mlandu.
When asked about allowing the Grade 10 learners to make use of the primary school’s premises, he said that Blue Lilies Bush Primary School in Tsitsikamma currently had Grade 8 and 9 learners at their school, and he suggests they open their doors to the Grade 10 learners as well.
Mlandu confirmed that a local farmer makes use of a portion of the school’s property to grow mielies.
He further said that the farmer only uses the school’s property for three months a year, and in turn pays the school R60 000 annually.
Mlandu said that with the money received from the farmer, they have been able to pay one of their SGB-appointed teachers.
“The farmer is currently the school’s main financial supporter,” said Mlandu.
He said that as part of the department’s policy, the school submits bank statements to the department regularly, which clearly indicates the payment received from the farmer.
Commenting on his request for money from the parents, Mlandu said the department cut the school’s budget after the COVID-19 pandemic, and to ensure that the school’s running costs were covered they needed additional funding.
“The school still has to function every day, and we therefore had a discussion with the parents to request that they pay between R50 and R100 a month, which will be used for the school’s running cost,” said Mlandu.
“The parents are not obliged to pay any money to the school, and it is voluntary.”
The Eastern Cape Department of Education was approached for comment but no response was received at the time of going to print on May 22.
