It is sad to see how the search for a principal at SACS has become a public participation process.
As a parent of a SACS boy and the Chairperson of a primary School Governing Body (SGB) for almost 10 years, I know that it is the task of the School Governing Body to make the required selection with regards to the principal even if it is the Provincial Education Department who actually appoints.
The nomination of a principal is not a community participation process, as 9 out of 10 times most parents do not really care what happens at school as long as everything is usual. Ask any SGB member or teacher at any school how many parents attend governing body elections and how often election meetings had to be deferred because of an inadequate forum.
Those who serve on SGB’s are the parents who sacrifice time, energy and petrol money to ensure that our schools run smoothly.
Since the SGB at SACS was elected by those parents (including myself) who bothered to attend the elections, the SGB must be allowed to make the vital selection without meddling from the outside.
SACS has a proud history and has made a major contribution to the City of Cape Town in terms of business leaders and so on. Those who do not have a direct interest, like a son at SACS should have limited say to what happens at SACS. Also if any parent wants to make a meaningful contribution to any school then they must get elected at the next SGB election or ask to be co-opted onto the SGB.
Shouting from the side-lines which is the norm for lazy detractors across our nation has limited value. In future those who criticize must be required to display their contribution or shut-up.
Cllr Yagyah Adams
Cape Muslim Congress