Protest erupts at Bisley Park Primary School
It is said that he attained the acting principal position illegally and did not follow the proper procedures.
A protest erupted at Bisley park Primary School when approximately 80 furious parents began congregating from 8am on Thursday morning following the issue of four suspended educators and the Principal, Sagren Pillay.
“The problem here is that the substitute teachers are incompetent, Grade 7 reports have mistakes and tippex is being used which makes our children look very inadequate. This laziness leads to our children not being admitted into high school,” said a parent who wishes to remain anonymous to prevent the victimisation of the child.
Parents are unhappy with the Department of Education and how they are “dragging their heels” regarding the problem at Bisley Park Primary School. The matter has been addressed in December with the Head of Department in KZN and to date the matter has not been resolved.
Both parents and pupils demand the reinstatement of the four suspended educators and the principal. More importantly they plead for the removal of the acting principal, Mr Khanyile, with immediate effect.
“Our children are suffering as a result of the Department of Education failing to fulfil their promise to us as parents. We need the immediate intervention of the honourable Peggy Nkonyeni (KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Education),” demanded another parent who also wished to remain anonymous.
According to the parents, there was a parent meeting held at the school on the 4th of February regarding the similar issue in December. This parent meeting was disrupted and called off after Khanyile proceeded to call the police for unknown reasons. Mrs Zondi who did not want to be identified by her first name said,
“I wanted to see Pillay and they said he was not allowed to attend. I want to talk while he is here. He is a parent to our children, a good teacher and a principal.” Khanyile was prevented from entering the school this morning due to a mass amount of disgruntled protesters. “I don’t hate Khanyile, I hate what is happening at the school because parents are not supposed to be at school like this. There is no racism in this school as it is one of the best lower primary schools. Why do they destroy our black primary school? We don’t have money to transport our kids to other schools?” said Zondi.
Many parents complained about the immediate employment of Khanyile and the fact that the department should stop wasting time and build a high school in this area. An educator stated that two white and two Indian educators were suspended for reasons currently unknown and replaced with four new educators three of which were black and one Indian who left. Khanyile is suspected of altering marks, not following correct procedures and incomplete reports of pupils.
Another educator commented on the aggressiveness and demeanour of the acting principal, he is threatening and authoritative toward teachers and parents alike causing both to be emotionally drained and fearful. It is said that he attained the acting principal position illegally and did not follow the proper procedures. A meeting was held on Thursday following the protest to discuss these issues at Bisley Park Primary School. Official Mncawbe and Tango from the Department of Education joined this meeting along with ward counsellor Philani Ngidi who supported the parents.
