Letters: #feesmustfall protest was a weak ploy

As chairperson of Shakaskraal Secondary School governing body (SGB), I feel compelled to respond to the article “Shakaskraal fees must fall” (North Coast Courier, January 20). At the outset, I must point out that the school has been registered as a section 21 school, which means that it is not fully subsidized by the department of education (DoE).
Due to the political landscape having changed after the rise of a democratic era, many unforeseen changes have taken place in the schooling system, more especially in the state-aided school system.
As boring as this history lesson may sound, I must reiterate that the changes were not for the better. Government stopped funding schools entirely to incorporate previously disadvantaged schools across the country. As a result, schools were forced to cut staff members and take salary cuts. Administration and support staff were also rationalized to reduce costs. The former led to a brain drain with educators seeking greener pastures.
As a result of these drastic measures, schools were forced to seek ways to subsidize the remaining costs. One time-proven method has been the collection of fees. Education is freely given but schools are not exempt from charging a registration fee for learners.
Governing bodies play a vital role in the running of any school and Shakaskraal Secondary is no exception. The SGB serves as a support system for the school’s administration by raising funds for expenditure including salaries for support staff, school functions, bills etc. School fees are used for the basic expenses of the school.
Each year, the SGB, which comprises of parents, community leaders and educators, summons meetings for parents to discuss budgets for the school, a system which has worked well over the years. Concerned parties take informed decisions on school fees to subsidise the DoE grant-in-aid. This has resulted in the school becoming a school of excellence.
Funds collected are used to pay for five cleaners, two SGB-paid educators, two admin staff, day and night security guards and a gatekeeper. The last budget meeting in 2016 stipulated the increase in school fees and was gladly sanctioned by all in attendance.
The school also subsidizes computer courses for learners and maintenance costs incurred for the school from school fees collected.
As a sanctioned agricultural school, we were compelled to implement changes in the school uniform, to accommodate more practical work on the farm. This was announced through the media and was received well by parents who attended the public meeting. The pricing of uniforms was deemed affordable (15% cheaper). The new uniform was made compulsory for new learners seeking admission to the school in grade 8, and optional for other grades. This enabled the uniforms to be phased in over the years without overburdening parents of learners already enrolled. All communications regarding school fees and uniforms have been regularly shared with parents.
Allegations of the school refusing enrolment to learners are utter lies. In 2016, the SGB and school management team took the initiative to exempt 200 learners from school fees and a further 400 learners received partial exemption. Despite the glaring fact that most parents didn’t pay any fees at all to ensure their children’s quality education, education progressed in a safe, clean and professional environment.
The implementation of a fees deposit basically reserves admission for your child in grade 8 because of the high volume of pupils seeking admission. You are not forced to seek admission.
In the light of the above, it is imperative to reiterate that Shakaskraal Secondary School remains a school of excellence and adopts an open-door policy regarding grievances. A civil and less disruptive stance would’ve saved embarrassment on the first day of school for those concerned. Our school is well run, with learner discipline at its highest.
It was quite embarrassing to note that ward 8 councillor Mr Ali Ngidi chose to bolster support from parents in Nkobongo to stage this illegal protest by intimidating them via political ploys. When this failed, he chose to summon about 40 youths to create a ruckus and toyi-toyi illegally. His attempt to get learners inside the school to follow suit fell on deaf ears and failed miserably.
This fiasco smacks of interference and of trying to rally political support for the ANC Youth League conference and is not about school issues. As he is an immature leader, I felt embarrassed to see this new ploy used to garner support.
As the ANC ward 28 councillor I distanced myself from this gathering, resulting in Mr Ngidi attacking me personally as SGB chairman. I welcome criticism and I challenge any parent to raise a grievance at our school and guarantee that we will listen to your problem and find a solution. Let’s discuss issues in a civil manner rather than intimidate each other like tyrants in a third world country.
CLLR D GOVENDER
Shakaskraal
(Letter shortened – Editor.)