8 FEBRUARY 2022

TO ALL MEDIA

REPORTED CHAOS, EDUCATORS’ FIGHT AT A SCHOOL, THE KZN EDUCATION PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE INTERVENS

The Education Portfolio Committee has taken it upon itself to visit the school in the Zululand District after reports of educators fighting amongst themselves during school hours and in front of the learners.

The Committee will undertake this oversight visit on the 12 February 2022 at 10am. “The reports of this school are appalling, it is beyond anybody’s imagination that educators who we know should be exemplary to our children would do such a horrible thing”, said Hon Sifiso Sonjica, the Chairperson of the Committee.

The Committee has resolved to conduct its oversight work by visiting this school and observe for itself many disturbing incidences reported and provided to the Committee.

“Unconfirmed reports of lack of necessities such as water, electricity, grass not being cut at a school with just under 150 learners, with 13 classrooms but only 5 educators. We do not believe we want to see for ourselves what school is this school”, Hon Sonjica said in shock.

Telephonic media interviews will be arranged for reporters.

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Wesley Canham
0833767299
Media Liaison and PR

KZN EDUCATION PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE CONGRATULATES THE CLASS OF 2021

The Portfolio Committee on Education in the KZN Legislature commends the Matric class of 2021 “on the outstanding achievement despite the difficult year”, said the Chairperson, Hon Sifiso Sonjica.

Hon. Sonjica on behalf of the Committee, appealed to those who have not passed to never despair and to consider alternative forms of empowering themselves as they are needed to make their contribution in building our communities. “Educators and parents have worked so well in most communities to bring about this 76.4% pass rate and we are excited and commend the work of the department in ensuring that systems are in place to support teaching and learning in a year where much time was lost due to, for example, the July unrest, and the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Hon Sonjica sends a strong message to parents who use their community issues to disturb teaching and learning and appeals to all parents to work to ensure that learners are not disturbed as they sit in classrooms to invest in their future.

“Next week we are embarking on the Schools Functionality Monitoring Programme to assess the readiness of schools as we start the new academic year. Some of the things we are looking at are working relations between communities and schools and the functioning of School Governing Bodies,” Sonjica concluded.

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For more information, contact:
Wesley Canham
0833767299
Media Liaison and PR