Editor

I as well as most other parents have similar views to those expressed by the courageous writer concerning Estcourt High School (Parent’s concern about quality education, Estcourt News October 25, page 6).

Out of fear of our children being victimised, most of us decided to remain tight-lipped about the issues raised, which to me is just the tip of the iceberg regarding issues at the school.

The biggest problem at the school is that the School Governing Body (SGB) comprises of a few housewives who feel that they can run the school as a cartel.

They have jobs that do not require any qualification or much intelligence and yet they want to dictate on how a once thriving institution should be run.

A case in point was the humiliation faced by some of our children a few weeks ago when we received SMS’s to say that our children did not receive reports due to an “administration problem”, only to find that it was due to outstanding school fees (R600 in my case).

As far as I know a debt only becomes due and payable in full upon expiry of a contract period, which is the end of the year.

Even housewives should be able to understand the difference between “administrative problems” and “non-payment” or arrears on school fees.

However, they seem to have conniving minds, since this term was used to mislead the Education Department as the Schools Act strictly prohibits action such as withholding learners’ reports due to non-payment of school fees.

The SGB should remember that they represent us, the parents of the school and should therefore be protecting our children and not humiliating them.

I say that we stand together and pass a vote of no confidence in this SGB and send a copy of this letter to the department in order for them to investigate the issue of teachers and the withholding of reports, which I am sure will unearth all the other ills from under the carpet.

If the Principal still declines to comment, perhaps somebody from the department will.

Fed Up

As an employee of the Department of Education, I have no authority to communicate with the media and to the content of the letter.

I do however, advise the writer to deal with the issues pertaining to Estcourt High School with the relevant role players.

If not with the institution, then with the Department of Education.

Mr DH Diedrick

Principal