Call for moratorium on 'model C' bonus ban

2012-01-13 22:30

Pretoria - Regulations barring former Model C schools from paying teachers bonuses should be put on hold, the National Professional Teachers' Association of SA (Naptosa) urged on Friday.

In a statement, Naptosa president Ezrah Ramasehla called for a moratorium on the implementation of the regulations published in the Government Gazette in December.

"The moratorium will allow for a proper investigation into the payment of perks, the alleged abuse, and to address other issues such as the grey areas in the regulations," said Naptosa president Ezrah Ramasehla.

R10.4bn paid in fees for Model C schools

In the meantime, procedures in the South African Schools Act should continue to apply, he said.

The new regulations, which came into effect on December 15, will mostly affect schools in wealthier suburbs where school governing bodies pay state-appointed teachers bonuses for working over-time.

The Sunday Times reported in December that school governing bodies feared the regulations would result in a wave of top teachers leaving state schools in favour of private schools.

According to the article, parents of pupils enrolled at former Model C schools paid an estimated R10.4bn in school fees in 2011.

A governing body may not employ a state teacher for more than two extra hours on a school day and six hours on a non-school day, according to the new regulations published in the Government Gazette.

Schools would be obliged to submit applications to provincial education departments for permission to pay teachers overtime.

The department insists these regulations will strengthen accountability and transparency in the schooling system.

"Although these regulations are meant to clarify matters and give direction to section 38A of the South African Schools Act, there are grey areas and possibly even one or two sections that are in conflict with the act," said Ramasehla.

He said the promulgation of regulations should not be based on anecdotal evidence.

"Is there clear evidence that the payments of perks has caused the increase in schools fees? What percentage of a school's budget is used for these perks?" he asked.

- SAPA