Parents and teachers at Hout Bay High School are calling for the remove of its principal and dismantling of the School Governing Body.
Image: Supplied.
Teachers, parents, and learners at Hout Bay High School are urgently calling for the dismissal of the school’s principal and the replacement of the School Governing Body (SGB), accusing both of failing to address ongoing issues of bullying, drug use, and unsafe conditions at the school.
Frustrations have reached a breaking point, with the school community voicing concerns about what they describe as a toxic environment that is being ignored by the current leadership.
Reports of bullying, disrespect towards teachers, and students smoking dagga on school grounds have become all too familiar, but despite repeated complaints, nothing has been done to address the issues. Parents and staff members say the principal’s leadership has only worsened the situation.
“The state of the school is the worst it’s been in years,” said one concerned parent.
“Things aren’t being done according to the book. The principal doesn’t take the Schools Act seriously, and he handpicks his own SGB members without following proper procedures."
“There was no electoral officer present during the SGB elections, and when we questioned this, it fell on deaf ears. Because he handpicked the SGB, all of our complaints go ignored. He has the mindset that the school is his, and he controls everything."
Many parents allege that the current SGB was not elected through proper channels.
Its alleged learners are smoking dagga on the school grounds.
Image: File
“Initially, only three parents were elected, but instead of reopening applications, the principal selected his own members. It’s clear he controls everything here, and we believe that’s because he has connections at the top. He does nothing for our school, and we’re fed up,” the parent added.
The dissatisfaction with leadership extends beyond parents.
A staff member at the school, who asked to remain anonymous, described working conditions as unbearable.
"The rest of the staff are too scared to speak up because nothing gets done," the staff member said.
"There are constant incidents of fighting, disrespect towards teachers, and even smoking dagga on school grounds. It’s incredibly difficult to work in these conditions. Just last week, some teachers downed pens in protest, but the principal made promises again, and once more, nothing has changed."
The failure to address these urgent concerns has led to widespread calls for the principal’s removal. “We need a new principal,” said a parent. “The department must act and remove him, along with his SGB. They are his puppets, and they’re not working in the best interest of the students. The situation is untenable.”
Reports of bullying and violence among students have gone largely ignored, and many parents and teachers are frustrated by the lack of response from both the school leadership and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
"When we report issues, nothing gets done," another parent explained. “We’ve logged complaints with Safer Schools, but they fall on deaf ears. The school is getting worse, not better.”
In a video obtained by the Weekend Argus, a learner is seen confronting another learner and within a few seconds, smacks him through the face.
This is one of the incidents, parents say were not reported but widely circulated.
Millicent Merton, spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), responded to the concerns.
“School discipline procedures are handled by the various structures within the school. These include counselling for learners and disciplinary hearings for serious cases.
“We are aware of the concerns raised by the school community, and in light of this enquiry, we will put in place an intervention to assist the school in addressing learner behaviour.
“However, the Safe Schools office has not received any formal request for assistance from the school until now.”
Merton further clarified that staff members concerned about issues within the school should direct their requests for support to the Circuit Manager if they feel the school management is not addressing the challenges.
“If the management team at the school is not addressing important matters, staff must request support from the Circuit Manager. The Circuit Manager will facilitate the necessary intervention to assist the school,” she said.
She explained a curator principal is managing the school while the formal process of appointing a principal takes place.
“The current curator principal will be in the role until the end of the term and is not available beyond that.”
Despite these reassurances, many within the school community remain unconvinced that meaningful change will occur under the current leadership.
“The department must act swiftly. We need the principal gone, and the SGB must be replaced.
“Until that happens, things will only continue to deteriorate.”
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus