Parents protested, demanding the principal of Dukathole LSEN School, Sibusiso Vilakazi, be sacked because he lacks the necessary care and essential skills to helm a school of learners with special educational needs.

The parents demonstrated at the Dukathole Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) School in Monaheng Section, Katlehong, on September 5.

A demonstrating parent, Nomhle Khumalo, whose son with autism schools at Dukathole LSEN School, said the principal and staff members at the school don’t have the expertise to teach learners with special educational needs.

“Our children are not taught anything at the school, because ever since my child started attending the school, he has never come back home with homework since the beginning of the year.

“One of the staff members at the school informed us that the teachers at the school are using our children to wash their cars and do certain jobs for them during school hours,” said Khumalo.

She mentioned that her child was adjusting well to doing basic things when he was still attending an early childhood development center, but since he joined the school, there has been no improvement.

“Children with autism can be trained or equipped with vocational skills that will help them to fend for themselves in the future, but at the school little to none is done to upskill the children with autism.

“I highly doubt that the staff members, including the principal, are trained to teach and handle our children, because from what I have heard our learners are playing the whole day at the school; it operates like a day-care center,” Khumalo shared.

She added their children always come back home dirty.

“There’s no curriculum for learners with autism at school, but the law declares that children with autism are eligible for learning. I was reading articles, and I have learned that autistic individuals can also learn and become professionals in society if they are taught at school.

“I have personal experience that children with autism can learn, because my child was non-verbal, but because I was patient with him and I self-taught him, now he can speak fluently. Most of the parents with children with special needs have decided to keep their children at home out of frustration and helplessness, because their children come to school but remain incapable of reading and writing.”

She said the principal is suspected of embezzling school funds.

“He is not transparent in using the school funds, and he is stirring divisions amongst the teachers at the school.

“Today we are having a peaceful protest, but we are calling for the principal to be removed at the school so that a better qualified and willing professional can take up the position,” Khumalo expressed.

Another protesting parent, Dineo Makenete, said the principal doesn’t support skills development programmes in the school.

“There’s equipment that was purchased for the learners with special education needs at the school, but it’s not being used, and the principal is turning a blind eye to that.

“He is meddling in the selection process of the school governing body (SGB) members so that the parents he favours will be selected as SGB members, which is illegal; that’s the other reason we want him to be purged as a principal at the school,” Makenete explained.

Rhandu Mahlaule, another parent who was amongst the demonstrators, said the principal has absolute disregard for children with special educational needs, and he doesn’t deserve to be the leader of the school.

“The principal is more focused on the beautification of the school rather than empowering and upskilling the learners with special needs.”

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) spokesperson Steve Mabona responded by saying the GDE confirms that learners are taught at the school and an individual learner support program is currently in place.

“However, not all learners had sessions with their parents and teachers. The process is still ongoing and in-place.

“The school has class assistance, general workers, and Basic Education Employment Initiative employees that are responsible for the care-giving task of learners,” Mabona responded.

He continued saying, “Accordingly, all the teachers employed at the school have minimum requirements of teaching learners as per the Public Administrative Management (PAM) document and South African Council for Educators (SACE).

“It must be noted that the school was initially designed for severe mental disabilities and later moved to specialise in autism.”

He mentioned that the GDE ensures that it capacitates the educators with short courses on autism.

“We outsourced the training of educators through Autism South Africa, an NGO from WITS, which partnered with Chris Hani Hospital to conduct workshops based on neurodevelopmental stages and aftercare& caregiving to parents, educators, and support staff.

“The school is also affiliated with Autism South Africa and the South African National Association for Special Education (SANASE), where good practice and professional development are instituted,” Mabona stated.

He added, “We can also confirm that the school subsidy covers Learner Support Teacher Material funds (LTSM), Learner Support Program funds (LSP) and Top-up Service funds to purchase the resources, devices, equipment, machinery, books & stationery, and groceries. However, the school was advised that it needs to work on the time on task and quick procurement procedures.

“Nonetheless, regular monitoring and support will be provided accordingly.” Mabona concluded