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"Without a deeper bench of principals who specialise in overhauling chronically
failing schools, the KZN Provincial Government's efforts to turn around
low-performing schools will have a fleeting impact," said IFP KZN Spokesperson
on Education, Mrs Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa,MPL.

"The wide spread shortage of qualified principals in schools like Madulini
Secondary School in Bulwer, Obanjeni Primary School and Makhwabe Primary in
Nkandla has put a drain on the institutional leadership of the province's
schools, and is seriously affecting efforts in whole-school academic
improvement. The principal is the cornerstone of a school's success and
development. We need to take a close look at the shortage, suggest reasons
behind it, and provides an overview of programs designed to address aspects of
the shortage," continued Mrs Madlopha Mthethwa.

"To address this the IFP recommends that there must be a development of a
formalised system for the recruitment of qualified, experienced applicants to
fill these leadership posts. We call for reforms in principal recruitment and
preparation to address shortages of high-quality candidates. The department must
conduct a systematic study of effective principals, particularly, those who
serve in poor urban settings. Larger schools must, in collaboration with
universities recruit young, promising teachers into their programmes,
encouraging them to earn their degrees, offering them internships and then
hiring them as assistant administrators," concluded Madlopha-Mthethwa.

The IFP further calls for the recruitment of schools principals to be
depoliticised as SADTU seems to be in the forefront of the recruitment process
of principals. The department of Education must not allow SADTU to hold it to
ransom just because it is aligned to the ANC.

Issued by IFP