Letter: Protesting parents need legal guidance

I AM a parent of two children who attend school in the northern areas and I felt compelled to show my support for members of Naecom (Northern Areas Education Committee) who appeared in the High Court on February 23.

I am just a bit disappointed that your paper relegates the report on the matter to page 6 (“Protesters ordered to leave education office,” The Herald, February 24).

I was fortunate to meet and interact with members of Naecom during their stay at the Department of Education offices. I went there to deliver food to them and to get a better understanding of their actions and viewpoint regarding the education crisis.

As a responsible parent I was impressed by their view that children should be in school and that parents should take up the fight with the DoE.

I have never supported the actions by the other group NAEF (Northern Areas Education Forum), who closed our schools for almost a month this year, thereby depriving thousands of children of the little education which they were receiving.

The actions by the NAEF even led to violent protests last year which shut down the northern areas and even stopped people from going to work.

It is with all this in mind that I, as a parent lent my support to Naecom.

I was shocked when I heard that the DoE was applying for an urgent interdict against members of Naecom and parents who were using non-violent means to get the department to address the education crisis.

The very same department sat by idly and watched how its employees (principals and teachers) closed more than 52 schools and there was no urgent interdict. There was no interdict at all and they were allowed to do as they please.

Schooling was disrupted but no action was taken against principals who are part of the NAEF. Some of those principals even hold leadership positions in the NAEF.

I went to court on Tuesday with other parents to show my support for the members of Naecom and I discovered that they were representing themselves in the high court. Most of their members and supporters are unemployed and cannot afford the high court fees of advocates.

This group has to return to court again on March 12. I appeal to the legal fraternity such as attorneys and advocates to offer their services to these men and women.

My appeal to attorneys and advocates is to provide their services and advice on a no-fee basis as this group cannot afford to pay for such services – that is why they represented themselves in the high court.

The education of our children is a matter of public interest and I am sure that many people out there would identify and agree with the aims and objectives of the group. I am sure that with the guidance of legal minds, this group can achieve their aims and objectives in a way which would be legally compliant.

I also wish to make an appeal to parents to rather support a group such as Naecom instead of groups who close schools, thereby depriving your children of a better future.