Parents protest over assistant teacher’s alleged offensive WhatsApp post at Katlehong school

Parents of learners at Dukathole LSEN School are unhappy with an alleged unsympathetic and insensitive WhatsApp post by an assistant teacher at the school.

The assistant educator allegedly posted a callous message on her WhatsApp status recently, which read:

“They say we put on makeup and eyelashes, not my fault that their children are born with special needs. I have a husband and children who need to be proud when they see me, not to look like a street kid who doesn’t work.”

In response to the social media post, parents picketed at Dukathole LSEN School in Monaheng, Katlehong, on September 15, demanding the removal of both the assistant educator and the principal.

One of the parents, Mahlodi Kgotiane, said they came to apply pressure on the Department of Education to take action against the assistant educator.

“How on earth can a person fail to respect our children’s conditions and say something demeaning to their dignity? As parents, we are disturbed that the same person who showed that she doesn’t care about our feelings as parents of children with special needs is still working at the school. We are picketing her today because we want her removed, including the principal who doesn’t have the expertise to run the school,” said Kgotiane.

She added that the written apology by the assistant teacher was unacceptable.

“I think she wrote the letter only after realising we were complaining. If we had not complained, she wouldn’t have seen anything wrong with what she wrote. As someone dealing with learners with special needs, she was supposed to be compassionate towards them and avoid writing such posts because these children are already suffering in this world.”

Kgotiane explained that the children should feel safe at school, but the assistant teacher’s post was exacerbating their difficulties.

“When they are here at school, the children should be treated well. We were told there are protocols to follow, and the teacher can’t be immediately dismissed. But we, as parents, do not want her here anymore. She needs proper training on handling herself as an assistant teacher, especially at this school. Her plight is that she doesn’t experience our pain as parents of children with special needs.”

She also criticised the principal’s management of the school.

“He is failing to call the teachers into order. He doesn’t engage with us, the parents, on what is needed or how we can support the school’s operations. I have really lost confidence in him,” Kgotiane said.

Another parent among the picketers, Nomhle Khumalo, said the protest was prompted by the WhatsApp post.

“We are here because of the assistant teacher’s post, which stated it’s not her fault that our children were born with autism. The same teacher insulting our children uses the school’s transport, yet writes such statements,” Khumalo said.

She added that the assistant teacher insulted her employers.

“Without the children she criticises, she wouldn’t be working. As parents, we are angry about the sentiments of the assistant educator. No one has the right to speak about our children in that manner. She knew from the start she would be working with learners with special needs, so if she didn’t want to, she shouldn’t have applied.”

Khumalo also questioned the principal’s oversight.

“His leadership is questionable because teachers continued to insult parents during a meeting in his presence,” she said.

Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed awareness of the alleged protest at Dukathole LSEN School, where the principal and an educator were prevented from entering on September 15.

“We have launched an investigation to probe allegations attributed to the assistant educator, and appropriate action will be taken accordingly. We wish to reiterate that there is no justification to disrupt schooling. The community is urged to use available structures to raise concerns. Lost contact time is not easily recovered,” Mabona said.

Member of the provincial legislature and sub-regional secretary of EFF Katlehong South, Noliqwa Semahla, said she visited the school after being informed by a parent about issues of learner neglect and mismanagement of funds.

“The other problem is the social media post by the assistant teacher, which is not upholding the spirit of Ubuntu. We met with different stakeholders, escalated all issues to the GDE, and as the EFF, we will hold the GDE accountable because we support a conducive learning environment,” Semahla concluded.

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