Stratford Primary School principal Kelvin Squire has resigned his position, effective from May 5 next year. This follows on from changes within the education system, which he says do not align with his core beliefs. "I support the direction, but not the process."
An outspoken lobbyist for the right of
every child to quality education, he says education is too important to change every three years with the shifting direction of the political wind, or "a cup of tea", as he puts it.
"Why can we not agree on what is important for the kids, for parents and for the teachers? The standards alone will not lift achievement levels; quality teaching, quality parenting and positive home-school partnerships, with the child at the center, are the way," he says.
"I am a strong believer in the African saying 'It takes a village to raise a child'.
"This is what I went into teaching for: for all kids, for all people, not just certain groups."