Celebrations known as ’40 Days’ and ‘pens down’ are known to be festive times for Gr 12 learners. The respective events, prior to and after their final examinations, are supposed to be joyous occasions.

However, these festivities are firmly in the spotlight in KZN and Gauteng.

The Inkatha Freedom Party in KZN has called on their MEC for Education, Mbali Frazer, to put a stop to ‘pens down’ festivities in provincial schools.

The party’s spokesperson for education in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Thembeni Kamadhlopha-Mthethwa, says with the much-reported upward trajectory in human trafficking and gender-based violence, pens down events should be permanently abolished, as these celebrations are often characterised by intoxication and substance abuse, that leave young people vulnerable.

“Unfortunately, outcomes from these events have proven to be detrimental to students, with some having their dreams shattered due to just a few hours of entertainment,” she explains.

Kamadhlopha-Mthethwa adds that unsuspecting youth are targeted by groups of human traffickers during these celebrations, with learners and even university students reported missing after such events.

Meanwhile, some Allen Glen High School Gr 12 learners are facing disciplinary action after their ’40 Days’ celebrations in Roodepoort, Gauteng, took a chaotic turn.

The ceremonial ending of a school career celebrations drew widespread attention on October 21 as, according to information shared by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), some learners threw firecrackers, tree stumps, rocks, flour and alcohol bottles while assaulting three staff members and a parent.

Honeydew police confirmed that cases of assault had been opened by the teachers concerned and the GDE elaborated on the behaviour their enquiry uncovered. “The information at our disposal also reveals that some of the aggressors, who were clearly intoxicated, repeatedly forced their way back into the school to assault other learners,” stated GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona. “The parent, mentioned earlier, was upset after his car was hit by a projectile. He got out of his car and was then assaulted by a group of matriculants,” he added.

The GDE stated that all implicated learners will attend a disciplinary hearing on charges of bringing the school into disrepute, among others. The implicated learners are currently writing their exams but in between being dropped off and collected from school, report to the office of the principal before writing any papers. “All affected by the incident have been referred to our psychosocial unit for necessary support,” said Mabona.

The department said it has a policy of zero tolerance to any form of misconduct in schools and anyone found to be transgressing this policy will be dealt with in line with the national department’s regulations on safety in public schools. The GDE urged all schools to implement the safety regulations and enforce their codes of conduct to deal with misbehaviour. “As the department we continue to strongly condemn any acts of misconduct by anyone, which seeks to undermine the dignity of our learning institutions,” continued Mabona.

He added that the GDE wants to take a more proactive approach in combating ill-discipline by learners. They tend to do this through parenting workshops, unannounced school searches, guided prison tours and partnerships with non-governmental organisations and the Departments of Social Development and Community Safety.

The spokesperson stressed that proper procedures would be followed and that the school will be assisted to come up with preventative measures to curb the possibility of a repeat situation. Admitting it would take a multifaceted approach, Mabona noted: “Our schools are a microcosm of society and what generally occurs in our society, finds expression in our schools. We always urge our learners to refrain from acts of misconduct in schools and implore parents to assist the department in instilling learner discipline in and outside the school environment.”