Isaak Tloloe, principal of Eastbank High School, said while it was a Constitutional right for every child to get an education, and it was also a right for all children to receive education in an environment that was not destructive to their learning.
This he said in reference to some pupils who were still in secondary school at the age of 21 when they should be in college among their own age group. He said most of these older pupils conducted themselves as adults and were sometimes a bad influence on younger pupils.
Tloloe added that some of the older pupils hung around with bad company in the community and carried these influences to school.
He said these older pupils needed assistance to improve their attitude and this should start at home.
“Parents should bond with them more, get them involved in family tasks and help restore their self-esteem to improve their ability to cope against gang influence,” he said.
“Schools can only assist with curriculum-related matters.”
Tloloe added that family support would further help these pupils develop personal responsibility and leadership skills.
