“Without a deeper bench of principals who specialise in overhauling chronically failing schools, the KZN Provincial Government’s efforts to turn around low-performing schools will have a fleeting impact,” said IFP KZN Spokesperson on Education, Mrs Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa,MPL.
“The wide spread shortage of qualified principals in schools like Madulini Secondary School in Bulwer, Obanjeni Primary School and Makhwabe Primary in Nkandla has put a drain on the institutional leadership of the province’s schools, and is seriously affecting efforts in whole-school academic improvement. The principal is the cornerstone of a school’s success and development. We need to take a close look at the shortage, suggest reasons behind it, and provides an overview of programs designed to address aspects of the shortage,” continued Mrs Madlopha Mthethwa.
“To address this the IFP recommends that there must be a development of a formalised system for the recruitment of qualified, experienced applicants to fill these leadership posts. We call for reforms in principal recruitment and preparation to address shortages of high-quality candidates. The department must conduct a systematic study of effective principals, particularly, those who serve in poor urban settings. Larger schools must, in collaboration with universities, recruit young, promising teachers into their programmes, encouraging them to earn their degrees, offering them internships and then hiring them as assistant administrators,” concluded Madlopha-Mthethwa.
The IFP further calls for the recruitment of schools’ principals to be depoliticised as SADTU seems to be in the forefront of the recruitment process of principals. The department of Education must not allow SADTU to hold it to ransom just because it is aligned to the ANC.
Issued by:
IFP KZN Education Spokesperson,
Mrs Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa, MPL, 071 884 3844 or 079 114 3015
Media enquiries:
Mr Phendulani Biyase,
IFP KZN Legislature Media Liaison Officer, 073 024 5675