The New Age reports that nearly 100 schools in Gauteng have been operating without a permanent principal since last year, with some schools having gone without principals for two years.  

The National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) general secretary Matakanye Matakanye commented that the challenge was that labour unions and the department did not let SGBs do their work in that SGBs were supposed to recommend a name to the department for appointment, but in some cases unions (who are supposed to observe) took over the appointment.  This then resulted in SGBs filing grievances and the whole process having to be redone.  The Gauteng education department issued a circular in August seeking more than 500 people to fill up leadership positions including principals, deputy principals and heads of departments.  A Gauteng education spokesperson said all 99 posts for principals had been advertised and the recruitment processes were at advanced stages.

• Read this report by Batandwa Malingo in full at The New Age

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