Here’s a snapshot of some of the reports* on schools we’ve received from the public recently, so you can get a feel for the kind of trends we’re picking up: an education department clerk offering jobs to friends and family, learners at a no-fees school forced to give teachers money, and a drunken principal embezzling funds.

Jobs a-plenty for friends + family

Mr *** is doing corruption by employing his relatives to the department of education district in ***. He makes sure that he employs them in all schools around that area. He’s got jobs at neighbouring schools for a sister, niece, nephew, his friend’s sister and a brother. At *** school he employed *** as a general worker. He gets paid as a clerk but he works in the garden.”

Experienced something similar? Report it to Corruption Watch here.

Youngsters at no-fee schools forced to cough up

“Learners at *** primary are continually asked to contribute money for reasons that are not clearly explained to parents. this has been happening for as long as the current principal was promoted. two rands were demanded previously and if a child didn’t have, they would be shouted at. Now they are taking ten rands from learners. Believe me, it was not banked – a female teacher benefited from that money. this is a no fee school. there is a long list of mismanagement of funds and unfair labour practice e.g some teachers not being appraised but receive pay progression. Reporting to the district office is like reporting somebody to a relative or to a grandmother.”

Experienced something similar? Report it to Corruption Watch here.

Principal + governing body share tender spoils

“The principal with the governing body of the school called *** School gave a tender to another company irregularly, the tender was not advertised. They gave the company the tender and the money was shared amongst them. The wife of the tenderpreneur is a teacher of the school above. We reported the matter to *** municipality (in KwaZulu-Natal) and they did not do anything about it.”

Experienced something similar? Report it to Corruption Watch here.

Drunk principal embezzling funds

The principal of *** is embezzling school funds, he gives tenders to his friends to do work at the school. He does these without informing the governing body, he signs cheques with educators’ names so that they cannot be traced to his name. Since 2009 we’ve never had an AGM meeting at the school. The last time we had one, we heard a principal’s report only – no financial report. The principal claims that he has connections everywhere so no one will touch him. Every Monday the principal does not come to school or comes late by 11h00 – he is drunk and comes in to sign in and leave, he sometimes signs that he came in at 07h30 while he came in at 11h00 or 12h00.. this happens almost every Monday.”

Experienced something similar? Report it to Corruption Watch here.

*Extra details that could identify the reporter or the accused have been taken out.

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Here’s a snapshot of some of the reports* on schools we’ve received from the public recently: an education department clerk offering jobs to friends and family, learners at a no-fees school forced to give teachers money, and a drunken principal embezzling funds.
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