• improving the quality of education in a school;
• giving all stakeholders a say in school governance, and ensuring accountability;
• ensuring that the school serves the best interests of learners, parents and the broader community, and
• ensuring good governance.

• deciding the admission policy of the school;
• deciding the language policy of the school;
• establishing a policy on religion at the school;
• adopting a code of conduct and constitution;
• the school’s constitution and mission statement;
• administering and controlling the school’s property and budget;
• recommending staff appointments; and
• supporting principals and teachers in ensuring quality education.

It is important for all parents to play a role in their child’s school. This includes participating in governing body elections, standing for elections or electing members that will ensure good governance, and safeguarding the resources meant for the improvement of quality teaching and learning.

The election of a governing body must be undertaken by:

1. a manual election;
2. an e-election.

e-Election means a governing body election in which electronic means are used in one or more stages.

A manual election is a full day election in which parents physically come to the venue to cast their votes at any time within the allocated hours of the day without any meeting being held.

Schools must decide what mode of election they will offer.

In the case of a manual election, schools may allocate timeslots when parents visit the school to physically cast their vote.

Both modes take place over one full day that must start at 7:00 and end at 20:00.

Who is involved?

• The provincial elections coordinator is responsible for ensuring that the election is promoted and complies with provincial procedures;
• The district electoral officer coordinates the elections in the district; and
• The school electoral officer prepares the notice and logistics around the election.<div>