KwaZulu-Natal principals with a 0% matric pass rate at their school could be axed as part of the education department's performance-improvement strategy.
This was the response to questions posed to the department by the DA in the provincial legislature.
The firing of underperforming principals would be the last move in a series of interventions undertaken by the department.
"The department had to analyse the situation in each school carefully and the conclusion was that it would be premature to dismiss any of the affected principals.
"In some instances, principals did demonstrate weak leadership and management skills.these were not the only contributing factors.
"The department has since embarked on an overall performance-improvement strategy. Should these targeted interventions fail to bear fruit, the department will consider dismissals," it said.
DA education spokesman Rishigen Viranna welcomed the news, saying the move was in response to pressure by his party.
"In the past two academic years 19 schools in the province had a 0% matric pass rate. The DA sincerely hopes that [the firing of inadequate principals] is not merely an empty threat," he said.
"We can only assume the MEC has finally realised the effect poor leadership has on our schools and the long-term effect this has on teaching and learning."
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