Education
(1) (a) What lessons have been learned from the collaboration schools pilot, (b) what challenges have been highlighted and (c) how is her Department addressing these challenges;
(2) whether there are any (a) principals and (b) SMTs from the collaboration schools that have resigned in the period 2019 to 2021 to date; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether she and her Department have received correspondence from parents and SGB members from the Apex Primary School regarding challenges with the service level agreements at their school; if so, (a) when were the letters written, (b) what were they complaining about and (c) how did she and her Department respond and address these challenges?
6. (1) (a) It is important that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. If those involved in the project do not understand their roles and responsibilities clearly, then the expectations of different parties may be misaligned.
To understand the context of the school, the operating partner must have a good understanding of the South African school education system and the socio-economic situation of the school.
(b) Challenges included miscommunication and a lack of understanding of roles, responsibilities, and context of the schools.
(c) It is of utmost importance that communication lines remain open, misunderstandings are addressed as soon as possible, and training of what the prescripts say must be done constantly.
(2) Please see list below.
School | Designation | Effective date of leaving | Reason for leaving school |
Trevor Manuel PS | Custodian Principal | 2017 | Retirement |
Trevor Manuel PS | SMT member | 2018 | Moved to another school |
Trevor Manuel PS | Principal | May-19 | Retirement |
Trevor Manuel PS | SMT member | 2019 | Promotion to Principal at another school |
Trevor Manuel PS | SMT member | Jan-19 | Moved to Common Good Collaboration School |
Apex HS | SMT member | Jul-18 | Moved to another school |
Apex HS | SMT member | Mar-21 | Moved to another school |
Forest Village LA | SMT member | Dec-20 | Left for another opportunity |
Forest Village LA | SMT member | Mar-19 | Moved to another school |
Apex PS | Principal | Jun-21 | Resigned |
Jupiter Primary | SMT member | Dec 2019 | Resigned |
(3) Yes
(a) May 2021
(b) The complaints received related to the following matters:
- The violation of the terms and conditions contained in the Service Level Agreement (SLA) by the operating partner;
- The validity of the SLA, as it was not signed by the current SGB but by the 2019/20 interim SGB; and
- The alleged lack of consideration by the operating partner for the views and opinions of the community and parent representatives.
(c) Various meetings were held with (separately or combined) the (i) staff members, (ii) parents, (iii) members of the operating partner, (iv) funders’ representatives, (v) circuit manager, (vi) district director, (vii) chairperson of the operating partner and (viii) CEO of the operating partner.
- A conflict resolution process was conducted.
- Roles and responsibilities were discussed of principal, SGB, staff members and operating partner.
- Expectations were discussed with the operating partner.
- Discussions are ongoing.
