School racism debacle

Parents are peeved about the school’s open support for the DA and the lack of transformation in its staff 

One of Bloemfontein’s former Model C learning institutions, Dr Viljoen Primary School, is enmeshed in a systematic racism scandal that has seen the school not only failing to subscribe to employment equity policies, but also flaunting a Democratic Alliance (DA) calendar at its reception area.

This emerged when some learners’ parents spoke to The Weekly about their frustration and displeasure at being continually dressed down by headmaster, Francois Schoon, whenever they attempt to raise concerns with regard to the operations of the school.

The formerly whites-only school’s learner enrolment is predominantly black and the bone of contention, according to the begrudged parents, is the fact that the teaching staff is all white.

In addition, the parents do not appreciate the fact that their children are taught African languages like Sesotho, in English by teachers who cannot even speak the language themselves.

This, according to the parents, compromises the gains that the country has made to reverse the legacy of apartheid, through the affirmative action policy.

South Africa adopted the affirmative action legislation after the democratic elections of 1994, with a view to increasing the participation of previously disadvantaged groups in the workplace.

Affirmative action, as enshrined in the Employment Equity Act, is therefore a constitutional obligation.

The concerned parents, who did not want to be named for fear of their children’s safety at the school, are convinced that it is totally out of order for the school’s management to publicly show their support for a political organisation as this contravenes the Public Service Amendment Act of 1996.

“The management has no business exhibiting a DA calendar. The school is a public place where our children are supposed to be educated, not be canvassed for any political party,” said one parent.

Another added: “I became very concerned the other day when my six-year-old son told me his teacher had told them not to listen to President Jacob Zuma because he is an evil person with no moral values.”

“The school is a quality school, yes, but I think it needs to recruit black teachers. There’s no way we are going to allow our children to be taught Sesotho in English by a white teacher who doesn’t even know the language,” added the concerned parent.

The Weekly visited the school in a bid to establish the veracity of these claims. When we got to the school entrance there were two black parents waiting to submit registration forms for their children (who are prospective pupils).

One of them, evidently impatient and listless, blurted that he had been waiting for the receptionist for more than 20 minutes and was getting late for work.

The Weekly called the reception and it was only then that the receptionist came out to open the gate. We told her that we were there to meet with the headmaster.

When he eventually come out, Schoon protested that he doesn’t speak to the media and objected to being photographed.

“I have not received any complaint from any parent, so I will not discuss anything with the media. As for a white instructor teaching learners Sotho in English, yes it is true. There are no black teachers at the school so we are only trying our best to teach kids the vernacular which we offer as a second language.”

When approached for comment on the practices at Dr Viljoen School, Free State department of education spokesman, Howard Ndaba, promised that the department will investigate the allegations by parents.

“The department will check if the teachers are qualified, but there is nothing wrong if they are white but have qualifications for Sesotho. We will follow up on the calendar issue.”

However, the National School Governing Body’s (SGB) secretary general, Monokoane Hlobo, was more forthright in his criticism, saying the association had noted “with dismay the alleged racist acts at Dr Viljoen School.”

“It is unacceptable that the school displays the DA calendar at its reception area. We would like to make it clear that schools are centres for learning and not for politics, and affirmative action should take place at Dr Viljoen School. Racism has no place in the new South Africa. Parents must advance, defend and consolidate educational transformation,” added Hlobo.

Hlobo said it is legislated that parents should take part in the decision-making process at their schools. He said school governing bodies are responsible for decisions on governance issues. Principals are ex-officio members of these SGB’s.

“The congress of governing bodies humbly requests the department of basic education to investigate these allegations and take appropriate actions agains the racists.”