The Grahamstown High Court has ordered the education department to pay back more than R80 million owed to 90 Eastern Cape schools that have paid teachers' salaries from their own funds for three years.
Victoria Girls High School is the only Grahamstown school that is affected by the ruling Wednesday 17 December.
The Grahamstown High Court has ordered the education department to pay back more than R80 million owed to 90 Eastern Cape schools that have paid teachers' salaries from their own funds for three years.
Victoria Girls High School is the only Grahamstown school that is affected by the ruling Wednesday 17 December.
Their claim is for more than R2 million. Judge JM Roberson gave the Eastern Cape basic education department's head of department 20 days to appoint a firm of chartered accountants to administer the R81 445 339.99.
Claims should be paid within 60 days of the order and any remaining funds should be returned to the Eastern Cape department of education.
The court order further stipulates that the claims administrator act in consultation with the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), which represents the schools.
The LRC said the court also ordered the provincial department to fill vacancies and appoint 282 teachers to permanent vacant posts. The department has stated that individual schools are entitled to a certain number of educators, but has failed to appoint them.
"This has resulted in schools either paying for educators themselves, through their school fees or special fundraising initiatives, or going without the necessary educators."
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