NO ACTION AGAINST TEACHER IN K-WORD ROW
WCED urged to emulate Gauteng MEC’s stance in the interest of children’s feelings
THE Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has been accused of protecting a Table View High School substitute teacher who allegedly used the K-word during a matric history lesson by not suspending her.
While pressure has been mounting on the department to follow in the footsteps of its Gauteng counterparts, where the MEC announced the suspension of Pretoria High School for Girls over a race-related incident, WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the cases cannot be compared.
Pretoria High School for Girls principal Phillipa Erasmus was placed on three-month suspension after one of the learners who lifted the lid on racism allegations at the school was allegedly victimised and the principal reportedly did not take action following initial complaints.
The complaints stem from allegations of racism where Grade 12 learners are currently suspended, facing charges of serious misconduct for being part of a WhatsApp group that allegedly expressed inappropriate opinions.
One of the parents involved in the Table View High School incident yesterday urged the WCED to follow suit and suspend the substitute teacher.
Parent Bongani Ndwanya said they felt the teacher was being protected at the expense of their children's feelings.
“The teacher can be placed on precautionary suspension pending the investigation.
“If the Gauteng department could do it, why not in this case?
“We believe it is unacceptable to allow the teacher to continue teaching classes and trying to protect the teacher despite such serious allegations.
“If they are failing to act now we are even seriously worried about the outcome of the investigation,” said Ndwanya.
Hammond said the WCED was following the relevant labour processes.
“Labour Relations have scheduled their school visit tomorrow (today) to conduct interviews with the learners. The school has been monitoring the classroom practice of the teacher, with another teacher present,” said Hammond.
In relation to the Pinelands High School incident where learners were “auctioning” black learners who were caged, Hammond said the investigation is ongoing and nearing completion, with 24 learners having been interviewed since the allegations were made.
“Four learners are currently on suspension and will face a disciplinary hearing.
“Steps will also be taken against other learners who may have transgressed certain provisions within the code of conduct. Counselling support has been prioritised, with debriefing sessions having already taken place for all Grade 8 learners, and further support for the rest of the school. A disciplinary process is being followed, the outcome of this process will determine the way forward in addressing this matter further,” she said.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) meanwhile said it noted the disturbing incidents and allegations that continue to occur in schools 30 years into democracy.
The commission has allowed the investigative process to be undertaken by the Gauteng department in relation to Pretoria High School for Girls.
“The commission will monitor the process and the outcome with the view to making an intervention.
“The commission is urgently assessing the matter in line with its Complaints Handling Procedure,” it said.
The SAHRC has opened its own investigations into the Pinelands High and Table View High School incidents.
While the Department of Basic Education (DBE) did not respond to requests for comment, Parliament's committee on education chairperson Makhi Feni said while the incidents may be isolated, it was possible that the problem in the basic education sector was bigger than previously thought.
The committee has called for a thorough investigation and that the DBE determine the extent of the problem to ensure schools were safe spaces for all learners from all backgrounds.
BASIC Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube is probably still familiarising herself with the workings of the department and trying to find a way of having President Cyril Ramaphosa not sign the Bela (Basic Education Laws Amendment) Bill, which her party, the DA, has strongly opposed.
While she is at it, she may want to park those issues. There is a pressing and disturbing matter that requires her to display leadership.
The first test of her leadership will be how the new minister responds to the racial incidents coming out of some schools, predominantly former Model C institutions.
Our news pages have been filled with reports of black pupils either being barred by their white peers from taking part in a WhatsApp group, a substitute teacher allegedly using the k-word in a history lesson on black consciousness, and even more disturbing is the ‘auctioning’ of black pupils by their coloured counterparts at Pinelands High School.
The action that has been taken thus far, including suspending the pupils involved, should be commendable. Suspending them is not enough, however.
This is a systemic problem that has existed for years, with little to no appetite to tackle it head-on.
Part of the reason for this is because of parties like the DA, coincidentally the organisation Gwarube belongs to. If one looks at recent history, especially in the Western Cape, the DA sugar-coats this problem. Its belief is that the issue does not exist.
That’s why Gwarube must not only utter words to calm the situation but must demonstrate her commitment to address this issue. The way her department intervenes in these incidents will send a message to schools and their governing bodies that there is a new sheriff in town.
Failure to do so will likely result in her following in the footsteps of her predecessors who did not do much, if anything, to tackle racism at schools.
Parents and the communities that the alleged perpetrators hail from must also take responsibility. It’s inconceivable that children born in free South Africa would be engaged in acts of pre-1994 behaviour without learning it from somewhere else.
Our freedom is meaningless when our children experience what many went through during apartheid. So Minister Gwarube, what’s your move?