KZN education department refutes claims it failed to act on misconduct allegations against Westville principal
Parents gathered outside the Westville senior primary school in Durban on Friday, demanding answers after the principal, who had been suspended, resumed his duties.
FILE picture: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp
DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal’s education department is refuting claims that it has failed to act on serious misconduct allegations against a school principal.
Parents gathered outside the Westville Senior Primary School in Durban on Friday, demanding answers about why the principal, who had been suspended, resumed his duties.
The complaints range from financial mismanagement, procedural misconduct, staff victimisation and inappropriate comments of a sexual nature.
In a statement, the provincial education department clarified that it has in fact undertaken two independent investigations into the matter.
One investigation was prompted by concerns by an educators' support group, while the other originated from submissions directly from educators within school.
The department said the processes were conducted in accordance with established departmental procedures to ensure fairness and objectivity.
It further clarified that the principal had been placed under precautionary suspension as part of protocol, while the investigations were underway.
It said that after the completion of the review process, the department instructed the principal return to work.
The KZN education department said that it would continue to monitor the situation at the primary school and remains open to re-evaluating the matter should new developments arise.