Parents outraged after school ‘took long’ to find child in pit toilet

According to them, teachers took too long to find the pupil and had since not been supportive,Mpumalanga News reported.

For social justice group Section27, the incident raises concerns of unsafe and inappropriate lavatory facilities, stating that old pits are particularly bad.

“Bad toilets effect a child’s right to a basic education, their right to a healthy and safe environment and their dignity,” Section27’s Tebogo Sephakgamela told The Citizen.

“Our child tumbled into the lavatory during break time and was only found after school,” the father, Vusi Mashinini, said. “What were the teachers thinking after noticing that the child never returned to class?”

He further stated the school did not even bother to take the six-year-old to the hospital and, according to him, the child needed medical attention.

“After picking him up from school, we rushed him to the clinic, where he was checked and sent home.

“Around dawn the following morning his tummy started swelling, and we called a private doctor who gave him injections and some ointment for the treatment of skin irritation,” Vusi added.

What irked the parents even more was that even when the child was absent from school, no one called to check on him, according to them.

The child’s mother, Nonhle Mashinini, claimed one of the teachers made a comment that they were not responsible for the incident, hence they were not showing any concern.

“Teachers have a duty in loco parentis when a child is at school. This means that teachers step into the shoes of the child’s parents and are responsible for them,” Sephakgamela said.

Timothy Lekhuleni admitted to Mpumalanga News they did not do any follow up, but he said they took care of the child after they found him.

He further refuted claims that the child was stuck inside the pit until school was out.

“The child fell after school and was instantly rescued even before he got deep into the waste.

“He was just stuck next to the seat because it appears as if he didn’t sit on the toilet seat, but stood.

“Teachers immediately gave him a bath and clothes to change after calling the parents,” Lekhuleni added.

“All we desire is for the school to show concern and support our traumatised child,” concluded the father.

– Caxton News Service