Protest at Centurion primary amid return of suspended principal

Teachers and parents at Centurion primary school staged a protest on the morning of Friday, March 11, following the unexpected return of the suspended principal.

The school gates were closed to stop the principal from entering the premises, but were later opened for the learners and parents.

The principal was suspended by the Department of Education last year after several complaints of financial misconduct, said a former staff member.

“A tender to supply stationery to the school was allocated to a company owned by her son,” said the former staff member, who wished to be anonymous.

“She started employing her family members and firing teachers from the school.”

Not only are parents frustrated by the principal’s return, teachers too are against it.

A teacher at the school, who also preferred to be anonymous, said the principal was verbally and emotionally abusive towards the staff.

“Ever since she left the school, we have been very happy. The acting principal is so kind to every staff member,” said the teacher.

“When she was principal, we would receive our payments late almost every month.

“Her relations with staff was very bad,” the teacher said.

School activities were disturbed as parents fetched their children after armed people were suspected to be on the school premises.

“I fetched my child from school because it was not safe for children to be on the premises.”

Education department spokesperson Steve Mabona has yet to respond to enquiries.

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