The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi has called for improvements in the Department’s support to school principals across the province.
Motsumi was speaking at the South African Principals Association (SAPA) conference at the Naledi Local Municipality, in Vryburg, which was attended by school Principals and Deputy Principals whose schools are affiliated with the structure.
The association focuses on empowering school leaders in the country, in South Africa, and is a platform for principals to engage in professional development, exchange best practices, and advocate for policies that improve education.
Motsumi acknowledged the pressure faced by the principals and called for unity.
“One of the most important principles that will help us to improve the results is unity.
We should strive to be united and be able to share good practices with top-performing schools.
As the Department, we should learn to engage with them to understand what they are going through.
They’re the ones who operate on the frontline of service delivery. The status quo needs to change,” said Motsumi.
Furthermore, the MEC expressed dissatisfaction with how the department reaches out to principals, adding that it is often to complain instead of offering adequate support.
“Our principals work under severe pressure.
As a department, we should learn to engage with them to understand what they are going through.
The status quo needs to change, as department, we should support our principals at all costs,” explained Motsumi.
Meanwhile, the outgoing North West President of SAPA, Lesiba Pila, highlighted the importance of the department’s support, to help the principals achieve their goals.
“As school principals, we appreciate the support that the department is giving to us.
I believe that even after I have left this position, the new leadership will make an even greater impact on our communities,” explained Pila, who is also the principal at Runatang Primary in Rustenburg and has worked for the department for 44 years.
The conference ends today.
