Education
With regard to the Heathfield High School:
(1) (a) Why have the powers and functions of the SGB been revoked and (b) why did the school not fill the vacant positions on the SGB through a by-election;
(2) whether the teaching staff, learners and parents of the school community were given the opportunity to make submissions to him regarding this matter; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether an acting principal has been appointed; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) for what period;
(4) whether a curator principal has been appointed at the school; if so, (a) for what period and (b) what is the cost involved?
2. My department has informed me of the following:
(1) (a) The powers were revoked in terms of Section 22(1) and 22(2) of the South African Schools Act (SASA).
.(b) There had been attempts to hold a by-election in March 2023, and again in May 2023. Due to various reasons, including insufficient nominations, these by-elections did not go ahead.
Following the appointment of an interim School Governing Body (SGB), an election was held on 9 November 2023 and an SGB appointed.
(2) Notice was served on the SGB on 19 July 2023 of the Western Cape Education Department’s intention to withdraw the recruitment and selection functions of the Governing Body. The SGB was given 14 days to respond. A response was received on 24 July 2023. The SGB was then informed on 1 August 2023 that the function had been withdrawn.
(3) (a) An acting principal was appointed. The acting principal was one of the deputy principals at the school.
(b) The acting principal was appointed for the period 2023/01/01 – 2023/08/31.
(4) (a) Yes, a curator principal was appointed, for the period 2023/09/01 – 2023/12/31.
(b) The total cost for this period is R 215 018.00.
