By Staff Reporter
GA-SEKORORO-Teaching and learning at Butswana Primary School in Ga-Sekororo were disrupted on Tuesday morning, March 25, after parents and the School Governing Body (SGB) locked the school gate in protest over the alleged irregular appointment of a teacher.
Learners were left stranded as protesters gathered outside the school locked the gate and chanting in protest.
The dispute centers on the appointment of a candidate to a departmental teaching post.
According to reports, the SGB and parents accused the school principal, along with the local education authorities, of bypassing their preferred candidate in favor of someone who had ranked third in the interview process.
The parents and SGB claim that the appointment violated their rights to recommend their top candidate and that the principal may have appointed a relative, which they believe was unethical.
“The appointment was supposed to follow the recommendations of the school panel, who interviewed candidates after the post was advertised.
We submitted a list, with our preferred candidate at the top, but the department chose someone else,” said an SGB representative.
The department’s decision was reportedly guided by Policy 49 of 2023, which regulates the appointment of Grade R teachers in public primary schools. According to the policy, while the school can conduct interviews and make recommendations, the final decision lies with the district.
The protest is also fueled by allegations that the individual who was supposed to be appointed was previously volunteering at the school but was told she did not meet the requirements for the position.
The disruption has raised concerns within the community. Some members view the protest as unnecessary and disruptive to the learners’ education. “This action is not in the best interest of the children.
There are proper channels to resolve this, and the SGB should have followed the right procedure to lodge a formal dispute with the district,” a local resident commented.
In response to the situation, the district and circuit officials are currently addressing the matter. They are engaging with the community, SGB, and other concerned parties to clarify the process and resolve the issue. Meanwhile, the school gate was reopened yesterday after some community members cut off the chain, allowing learners back into the classroom, although some parents and other protestors continued to prevent teachers from entering.
