Calls for investigation as Free State private schools face allegations of hiring unqualified teachers
Calls are intensifying for an education probe in Vrede, Free State, after a community organisation accused two independent schools of employing unqualified teachers and contributing to declining learner performance.
The Phumelela Community Forum issued an urgent advisory to parents, raising concerns about teaching standards at Glodel Academy and Fountain of Knowledge Academy. The group alleges that some educators may lack recognised qualifications, which it says is affecting academic outcomes and leaving pupils unprepared when they transition to public schools.
The forum also claims certain learners are allowed to rewrite tests simply to progress to the next grade, a practice it argues could undermine their long-term prospects. It has called on the Free State Department of Education and the South African Council for Educators to intervene and says it plans to formally engage the authorities.
“When learners from these schools transition to public schools, they often struggle to cope due to inadequate preparation. We’ve witnessed instances where learners are given tests to rewrite just to be pushed to the next grade, which is detrimental to their future,” the organisation said.
A WhatsApp exchange between a parent and a teacher who recently resigned suggests tensions within one of the schools. In the conversation, the parent asks whether the teacher is still employed there. The teacher replies: “I resigned last week, I didn’t like what they were doing to kids and exploiting teachers.”
The parent responds that she had anticipated the resignation, describing the teacher as outspoken and unwilling to tolerate what she called “the nonsense” at the school.
“Thank you, you’re the voice of the voiceless. I did feel that we were being bullied as parents, but you could just see that I was the only parent who had serious concerns for the FET phase. Child development includes extramural activities. But hey, I don’t know. Thank you,” the parent wrote.
In a separate voice note, a former teacher alleges the hiring of unqualified staff, claiming the practice is linked to low pay.
“The problem is that they are hiring unqualified people because they don’t want to pay; that’s the problem they are facing. You can’t pay a teacher R3,500 to teach a child. That’s why now they prefer people who have a Grade 12. That’s the problem we are facing,” the teacher said.
Fountain of Knowledge Academy has pushed back against the allegations, issuing a statement reaffirming its commitment to national standards and learner performance.
The school said claims circulating on social media are “incorrect and based on unsubstantiated data,” adding that most learners are performing well under the national curriculum framework set by the Department of Basic Education.
The institution said it remains open to engagement with parents and stakeholders, and invited anyone seeking verified information to contact its administration directly.
Fountain of Knowledge Academy principal and founder, Allen Patrick Domeke, acknowledged in a telephonic interview that some teachers do not yet hold formal qualifications.
“When we opened the school, we approached qualified people, and they turned us down as they did not have money. So I approached people who have matric but are interested in education to work with us. We give them an option to further their studies and obtain their qualifications,” he said.
Domeke, however, rejected claims that teachers are paid between R2,500 and R3,500 and questioned the motives behind the allegations.
“This is someone who is politically motivated, and we challenge them to provide proof that people are getting paid R2,500 in the form of a payslip. There is no one getting this amount at our school. We don’t have money, but that is too little to be a payment. Anyone smearing our name will not be tolerated, and we will be taking legal action,” he said.
Glodel Academy has also strongly denied the allegations. Principal P Poshayi said the claims circulating online are unsubstantiated and do not reflect the school’s standards or its conduct.
“We categorically deny the false and defamatory claims that have been made against our school, staff members, and leadership. These allegations are unsubstantiated and do not reflect the values, standards, and professional conduct that define our school community.
“As an institution committed to excellence, transparency, and learner well-being, we take all concerns seriously. We encourage any individual with legitimate concerns to follow the appropriate grievance procedures and communicate directly with school management,” he said.
The school confirmed it is consulting legal representatives over the spread of what it calls false information and may pursue legal action to protect the reputation of the institution, its staff, and learners. It also appealed to the public to avoid sharing unverified claims, saying its priority remains maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment.
Established in 2004, Glodel Academy says it offers education from Grade R to Grade 12 and follows the national curriculum in English. The independent school says it has about 200 learners and 20 staff members, and is registered with provincial education authorities and independent school bodies. It adds that its graduates obtain South African qualifications and that many alumni have gone on to universities locally and abroad.
Fountain of Knowledge Academy Combined Independent School, located in Thembalihle, Vrede, operates as a combined independent institution serving the local urban community. Admission is handled directly by the school through a personalised process aimed at assessing each learner’s needs.
The school is reported to have about 140 learners and seven teachers. As a fee-paying institution, tuition is set by the administration to cover operational costs and educational resources, with fees varying by grade level and additional services offered.
The schools are registered with the Department of Education in the Free State but not with the Independent Examination Board (IEB) or the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA).
Glodel on its website says “graduates receive a South African qualification that is globally recognised”.
The Free State Department of Education says it intervened after receiving complaints on February 12, 2026, about the non-payment of January salaries to teachers at Fountain of Knowledge.
Spokesperson Howard Ndaba said the official responsible for independent schools “instructed that the payment must be made with immediate effect by the school owners”, and proof of payment was submitted on February 17.
Ndaba said the department has not received formal complaints against Glodel Academy, but it is aware of the school’s poor matric performance.
“The department has not received any complaints about Glodel; however, the department is aware of their underperformance in the 2025 NSC examinations,” he said.
Responding to allegations that the schools employ unqualified or foreign teachers, Ndaba said the matter would be addressed during oversight processes.
“The department has already prepared accountability sessions for the underperforming independent schools, where the issues of the qualifications of teachers and the quality of education provided will be dealt with.”
He also disputed claims that teachers earn as little as R2,500 per month. According to the department, at Fountain of Knowledge, “teachers are paid more than R2,500 per month; it is only the cleaner who is paid R2,000”, while at Glodel Academy, teachers earn between R5,000 and R10,000.
Ndaba further confirmed that both schools are registered, Glodel since 2005, and Fountain of Knowledge since 2013. He added that when it comes to performance, Glodel achieved a 100% matric pass rate in 2024, but dropped to 20% in 2025 after four of five candidates failed. Fountain of Knowledge offers Grades R–10 and does not yet write the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.
Ndaba said the department “will make a follow-up at these schools and ensure that all these challenges are resolved”.
