By Theodorah waga Mawasha
The Department of Basic Education is developing a policy framework aiming to improve rural schools that are considered too small and unviable. These schools will be shut down or merged as part of the school rationalization process outlined in the DBEs rural policy framework.
In light of this development, the Maselekwane High School principal is at loggerheads with the school committee and parents after she allegedly agreed with the Department of Basic Education to merge the school with other local schools without proper consultation with relevant stakeholders of the school.
A source who spoke to Tzaneen Voice detailed how the school’s principal; Merriam Baloyi has failed in her duties as the Head of Department (HOD).
“We have written a memorandum of grievances pertaining to her behaviour and abuse of power. We were supposed to have input on the decision of the merger. We indicated in a meeting that we are not happy with the merging of the school with other schools. However, she ignored that consensus “, an anonymous said.
Baloyi was contacted and she refused to comment citing that she doesn’t like talking to the media.
The Department of Basic Education has not yet responded to correspondence over the saga.
