MPHENI – A tug of war is currently brewing between the Department of Education and the school management, governing body, parents and guardians of Muthuhadini Primary, a school situated at Mpheni.

When the school was established in 1994, it used to admit learners from Grade R to 7. When Grade 8 was introduced at Muthuhadini last year, everything seemed to be going smoothly, but as another grade was introduced this academic year (Grade 9) things turned sour as the Department of Education claims that the two grades were introduced without its knowledge and approval.

When addressing parents, members of the SGB and school management, the senior district manager in the Vhembe district, Mr Masotsha Mathivha, said that “We want to put the record straight. The two grades were introduced without our knowledge and since it was erroneously introduced, we wrote a letter to the school indicating that the Grade 8 students be taken to the neighbouring schools, but to our shock, the Grade 8 remained. We want to inform parents that their children are at this school without the knowledge and approval of the department and we are prepared to assist them until the finalisation of the application of the establishment of the new grades procedurally,” he said.

Representing the Provincial Department of Education, Ms Cebille Khanye said that if a new grade or subject is to be introduced at a school, one must first get approval from the Department. “There is no enmity between us and Muthuhadini. As the Department, we are uniform and consistent; this school is performing very well and we don’t want to create a bad name for it. We do not want Mpheni to be a lawless area, because we are not a banana republic. The Grade 8 and 9 pupils must go where secondary learners are prepared, that Muthuhadini should operate from grade R to grade 7,” Khanye told the disgruntled parents.

Angry parents, who told the Department crew that they do not want their children to go to the neighbouring Shangaan schools, also asked what had prevented the department from discontinuing Grade 8 last year. They wanted to know why the department had supplied books to the two grades in question if they had not been approved and what was likely to happen to learners who did Grade 8 last year?

They also wanted to know if the department had conducted any research about the enrolment at the neighbouring schools.

The SGB chairperson, Mr MD Tshidada told Mirror: “We are not supporting the decision of the department. If they want to work with us, they must give us this year, as we would be negotiating because we are still waiting for the answer to our appeal letter from the MEC. Learners would remain at the school until our appeal has been responded to,” he said. Tshidada said that it is surprising that the department, who provided teachers within the staff establishment and books for the two grades, is now claiming that the two grades are unlawful.