The department of education in the Northern Cape might have its assets attached for failing to compensate a teacher after she was fired via SMS by a principal.
Arlene Nel said her only sin was refusing to tamper with the marks of the principal's son. She had taught the boy life sciences last year but he failed the final exam, she said.
"The only way he could pass was if he received 100% for every assignment for the year. The principal is a life sciences teacher himself and insisted I re-mark the assignments."
When she refused, he allegedly started harassing her. He sent her an SMS in January when the school reopened saying her services were no longer needed. The ordeal left Nel, 27, so traumatised she went into labour early, she said. "I depended on my salary to care for my new baby. All of a sudden I was without a job."
In May, the Education Labour Relations Council ordered the department to compensate her with three months' salary, because she was dismissed for failing to heed the principal's demands. Nel, who has a degree in chemical biology, was one of 10 temporary teachers at the school.
She said its governing body had recommended that all 10 stay on in their posts this year. But, after the incident with the principal, he failed to send the recommendation to the department, Nel said.
Solidarity's Johan Kruger said: ''Should the department again fail to respond, Solidarity will obtain a warrant of execution and attach the department's assets.''
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