The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal calls on the MEC of Education, Peggy Nkonyeni to conduct thorough assessments before considering implementing principal performance agreements as the Basic Education Department intends having all school heads sign performance agreements by 2019.
“This is not an easy task to just instruct school principals to sign performance agreements. The Department needs to do assessments on why some schools are performing badly before holding school principals into account. The Department itself needs to do its own introspection on whether it has done enough to provide much needed resources to schools before attributing blame to school principals, because many schools even today are lacking resources due to the inept department of education,” said IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson on Education, Mrs Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, MPL.
“We are not against singing of performance agreements but we believe that this issue involves the department and the principals themselves. In the first instance the Department must ensure that educators with the required qualifications, experience and leadership skills are appointed as principals and not SADTU members who are cadres of the ruling party. In other way we support this initiative to hold school principals accountable if they are not performing well as heads of schools. There are many school principals who are not doing their jobs effectively, therefore, necessary steps must be taken against them. Those who are performing well must be acknowledged by the department and their skills be to be utilised in assisting those schools that are not performing well,” continued Mrs Madlopha-Mthethwa.
“The IFP supports the initiative of implementing competency tests for teachers applying for senior positions. There are insufficient teachers who were competent in certain subject areas, particularly maths and science. The need for competency tests has again highlighted the need for performance agreements. It is unacceptable that unions are delaying the signing of performance agreements by principals and their deputies,” concluded Mrs Madlopha-Mthethwa.
The IFP believes that both the Department of Basic Education and Training and KZN Provincial Department of Education should not be intimidated by unions like SADTU in passing this rule.
Issued by:
IFP KZN Spokesperson on Education, Mrs Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa MPL, 071 884 3844 / 079 114 3015
For Media Enquiries:
Mr Phendulani Biyase, IFP KZN Legislature Media Officer, 073 024 5675