• What is a School Governing Body?
• Who participates in the SGB?
• What are the functions of the SGB?
• Parental rights and responsibilities

The Schools Act says that all stakeholders in education must accept responsibility for the organisation of schools, and points out that parents and members of local communities are often in the best position to know what a school really needs and what its problems are. This is why every public school must have a governing body.

Each School Governing Body (SGB) governs the management of its school. In a school that is registered as a section 21 company, the SGB is also responsible for the school's finances.

The SGB consists of:

• the school principal
• elected representatives (parents, educators, other staff members, and learners in grade 8 or above)
• optional co-opted members who do not have the right to vote (for example, members of the community, or the owner of the school property).

You can represent other parents on an SGB if you are nominated and voted for by the parents. The majority of voting members of the SGB must be parents.

The principal will provide parents with information about SGB elections.

The governing body must:

• Decide on an admissions policy for the school.
• Decide on the language policy of the school.
• Decide on what religious practices will be followed at the school.
• Adopt a code of conduct for learners which sets out disciplinary procedures.

All these decisions and policies must be in line with national policies.

The SGB must also:

• Adopt a constitution setting out how the SGB will operate.
• Adopt a school mission statement setting out the values and beliefs of the school.
• Decide the times of the school day.
• Administer the school's property, buildings and grounds.
• Make recommendations regarding the appointment of educators at the school.

In addition, a governing body can be given any of these functions:

• maintaining and improving the school's property, buildings and grounds
• deciding on the extramural curriculum and the choice of subject options according to provincial curriculum policy
• buying textbooks, educational material and/or equipment for the school
• paying for services to the school.

The WCED supports SGBs by advising them on their responsibilities and providing training in financial management.

All parents whose children are registered at school have rights and responsibilities. Even if you are not elected onto the school governing body, you still have the right to be involved in the affairs of the school by attending meetings of parents.

You also have the right to be consulted by the educators or the principal about the schooling activities of your child. The principal and the educators at the school must inform you about the behaviour, attendance and learning progress of you child.

For more information, contact:

Dave Shepherd
Tel: 021 467 2611/13
Fax: 021 467 2996
dshepherd@pgwc.gov.za

Or call your school-based development advisor at your local EMDC.