It’s sad how some parents choose to address issues at school - Head of St Benedict’s

702’s John Perlman speaks with Andre Oosthuysen, Executive Head of St Benedict’s

Listen below:

South Africa is facing a shortage of teachers that is set to get worse in the next decade.

With 48% of public school teachers reportedly approaching retirement, teacher graduations need to double from 30,540 to 59,034 annually by 2030 to maintain current ratios.

St Benedict’s has shared a story suggesting that the teaching crisis may be in part due to parents taking out their frustrations on the schools.

Oosthuysen says that ‘keyboard warrior’ parents attacking the school online can create a toxic environment, and they are having to divert significant time to managing parent confrontations.

“I am so deeply saddened by the confrontational, threatening and litigious approach that some parents choose to adopt when approaching the school to address a problem or raise a concern.”

– Andre Oosthuysen, Executive Head of St Benedict’s

Oosthuysen says these parents are a minority, but the trend is growing in the post-Covid years with several teachers being bullied and threatened by parents.

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“There is a culture of toxicity and a narrative of unkindness in the educational space.”

- Andre Oosthuysen, Executive Head of St Benedict’s

He adds that issues are going to come up from time to time but there is a better way to deal with these situations without attacks, bullying, and bad-mouthing each other.

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