Students protest against principal’s return

Students of Ikusasa Comprehensive School protested against the reinstatement of the school’s principal.

The protest took place on May 20.

According to students, they were not consulted about the principal’s return to the school.

Students listed a shortage of learning material, among a number of complaints, that led to to the protest against the return of Ms Grace Tshetlo.

A parent, who has two children in the school, said when Ms Tshetlo was principal her daughter had to travel from Mangweni to Winnie Mandela Section to share text books with her classmate.

“Things have changed for the better in the school since the deputy principal Zanele Mpela took over,” she said.

Some parents agree and support their children’s demonstration.

It is claimed the principal was suspended in 2013 following a similar protest due to an alleged misappropriation of funds.

“We are happy with the current acting principal,” said pupils.

Teachers declined to comment, as well as members of the Representative Council of Learners (RCL).

The Gauteng Department of Education‘s spokesperson, Ms Phumla Sekhonyane, said the department confirms that pupils from Ikusasa Comprehensive School were protesting on May 20 against the return of the principal.

“The former principal, Ms Tshetlo, was never suspended but instead started reporting to the district in September 2014 after the staff of Ikusasa Comprehensive School lodged grievances.

“A forensic investigation was conducted and the department is currently implementing its recommendations,” said Ms Sekhonyane.

“The department, through its district, consulted with the SGB and staff in two separate meetings. The RCL is part of the SGB and there was RCL representation in the SGB consultation meeting,” she said.

“The department has, since the May 20 protest, intervened and pupils were back in class on May 21 when learning resumed,” she said.