A successful schools march and drill programme credited with improving discipline and behaviour among pupils has become the centre of a dispute between organisers and the Eastern Cape department of education.
According to the Go Big Development Initiative, which launched the project in 2012 in Bethelsdorp and Helenvale, the programme has helped hundreds of children develop respect, teamwork and leadership — with many later recruited by the police and army.
“It has proven that the march and drill programme in schools, implemented by the Go Big Development Initiative, is benefiting the children.
“Their discipline and behaviour improved remarkably,” project manager Zee Agherdien said.
“Many of them are recruited by the police and army after school.”
Agherdien said the programme — the brainchild of Dr Fuad Jappie — had since expanded into township schools across New Brighton, Zwide, Kwazakhele and Motherwell.
However, he claimed its success had also attracted “opportunistic behaviour” by a “splinter group within the department of education at management level” who allegedly seek to take over the programme.
“This has had an adverse effect on the learners and threatens to destroy all the hard work and success that has been obtained over the last 13 years,” Agherdien said.
He alleged that in 2024 a group of teachers from township schools and department officials had begun working to sideline Go Big.
“Go Big Community Development has always encouraged unity among schools, where schools from any area or racial background are welcome,” he said.
“Though the programme was piloted in Helenvale and Bethelsdorp, it has expanded into many township areas, with participation now standing at 70% of township schools.”
According to Agherdien, the so-called splinter group “is driving division between northern areas and township schools”.
He said that after meeting department officials on March 25, “it became evident that the department is [allegedly] backing the splinter group and working with it to take over the programme from Go Big Development”.
Agherdien also accused the department of withholding funds for their upcoming national competition later this week.
“We held an annual competition in March whereby the winners must compete in Cape Town. It seems as if the department does not want to fund the trip,” he said.
Go Big member Haroon Mahdi said it was difficult to keep children motivated without department support.
“The department is failing the children and it must acknowledge them. The march and drill give the pupils a positive frame of mind,” Mahdi said.
A 16-year-old participant said the funding issue had left pupils feeling helpless.
“It is very unfair. Our parents cannot afford to pay for the trip to Cape Town.
“This is something we worked hard for. This programme taught me respect,” the teenager said.
Despite these challenges, Go Big managed to host a successful competition in August, with four schools qualifying for the National Schools March and Drill Competition in Cape Town on October 18.
But Agherdien warned the trip was at risk because the department had [allegedly] ignored all requests to assist with funding.
“This has left educators, parents and learners in a Catch-22 situation,” he said.
However, department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima denied the existence of a splinter group.
“There is no such thing as a splinter group,” Mtima said.
“The department wants accountability, that is why educators and members of the department were elected to be part of the march and drill programme.”
He said the project “is not applicable to one section of the school fraternity”.
“This is about our children and everyone is involved.
“We are not withholding funding. If it is a department initiative, we will fund it. The best thing to do was to get educators involved.”
The Herald
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