Editor
In the past few weeks media reports have been bustling about corruption that has found grounds within the education sector. It is held that teachers are sold management posts in schools, where the highest bidder takes it all. The monies are exchanged by way of brown envelopes, which of course would have no trace. The allegations in this instance implicate the biggest teacher union in the country, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU).
Justice in employment institutions is amongst the benefits of democracy we are supposed to benefit from. This should begin with the prerequisites and processes followed when appointing individuals to hold certain positions.
The latter developments clearly demonstrate that the situation is contrary to the expected. Corruption is at another level and the existing conditions are favourable to a few. It is not because these issues are unknown but they remain under the carpet hence there seems to be no evidence that is brought forth in defence of the marginalised and ensuring that transparency subsist. Currently the focus is on the looming catastrophe in the education profession.
The teaching occupation is amongst the most esteemed professions.
This goes with the mammoth task teachers maintain in the building of the society, thus it is considered as the mother of all professions. One’s academic foundation is positioned by educators; starting from the early childhood development to the intermediate and the further education and training (FET).
The profession does not only deal with matters concerning the academia but the social aspects of a young person are addressed therefore it is for this reason teachers are bearing lots of responsibilities in societal modelling.
Since the matter is currently at hand, there is another side of this subject we are ought to have our eyes fixed at. We have turned a blind eye on this matter, but as a new someone in the profession I was taken aback when I learnt about these acts.
The subject in this regard concerns the main parties in the course of employing educators.
The pillars in this case remain learners, educators and parents. Which means all the indiscretions taking place will impinge on all the role players; it might be directly or otherwise. It happens that the recently exposed irregularities implicate all the interested parties.
Nevertheless there are issues one needs to intensely examine before conclusion.
The crisis concerning the buying and selling of positions in employment institutions is said to have existed for a while, not only in the teaching profession but across all employment institutions. There are a number of issues that the society tends to ignore when looking into the “brown envelope” matter.
Firstly I would say every institution has its guiding policies, governing the issue of appointing individuals to key positions. Secondly there are important stake holders that hold the responsibility in taking decisions on who is compatible to hold a certain position. Thirdly, there are observers in the processes that are meant to ensure transparency and fairness throughout.
In the case of appointing educators, it is very important for one to first understand the role of each of the involved parties before reaching the conclusion on who might be leading the “brown envelope revolution”.
The teacher unions remain observers in the process, which means they remain there to ensure transparency in the process. Technically the will of teacher unions cannot be central.
In this regard, they are in no way liable in influencing the decision on who should be appointed.
Although there are other casualties that tend to go beyond what is at face value? The scoring persons, are likely to have the closed door engagements with the union leadership, and none can have interest on this hence there can be evidence to support it.
The scoring parties remain the departmental officials and members of the school governing body.
The School Governing Body remain the centre of the decision making on who should be, or should not be appointed.
This is the main issue we need to discuss, and critically evaluate; the concern of leaving up the whole process to school governing bodies. It in fact dazed me when I learnt about it; that a process of evaluating an academic is chaired by someone who might have no sounding academic credentials.
Some of the SGB members in government schools are respected members in the community; their esteemed dignity is not aligned to their level of education.
Having such individuals being part of the interviewing panel that decides who shall hold a position in the academic circles is somehow an insult to those being evaluated. They are even though allowed to appoint persons to lead the process if it happens that they are not equal to the task.
I still stand that we have been ignoring the issue that is at the core of this problem. I suppose the issue of the “brown envelope” becomes apparent in the process of appointing officials to lead the process on behalf of the school governing bodies.
Now who decides on the names of the individuals they will identify to assist in this course of action? What is being looked at when selecting those individuals, or they just rely on the already existing structures in the education profession. Although it cannot be proven in black and white, but the chances stand immense to having those appointed parties being lobbied by individuals holding ambitions.
Having some of the SGB members unemployed, or having no income at all; the reality remains that if they happen to decide to score in the process, they are likely to be influenced also.
In these difficult times, people do the unimaginable in order to gain means of survival.
One can say that if the revolution of this nature exists, one should look at other players in the process. Teacher unions factually have no evident role in the selection process.
Although workshops are conducted in guiding the SGBs on conducting interviews, the challenge remains.
Teachers will continue to have their fate decided by people with little or no knowledge of the responsibilities at hand.
Until the Department of Education changes the procedures of appointment we are still going to witness cases of schools being led by incompetent individuals who lack the necessary skills for management positions.
Nombulelo Dlamini