Ashton International College Ballito has remained firm after being accused of double standards following the recent expulsion of two students for the exchange, and use of cannabis oil on school property.

Senior college principal Jenny van Buuren confirmed that two expulsions had been carried out – that of a grade 10 girl and grade 11 boy, following the completion of disciplinary processes and appeals.

A statement has since been released on the Ashton Ballito Facebook page.

It states that the mother of the girl gave the cannabis oil to her daughter, who in turn gave it to the grade 11 boy on October 19 on school property.

“The boy was reported for using the oil in a school bathroom in front of some of the younger children,” Van Buuren said.

According to the statement, one ex Ashton student and one matriculant on study leave were also involved on the day.

The students who used the cannabis oil in the bathroom tested positive and were suspended until the disciplinary hearing.

“All the students who used the cannabis oil were reported to the police and have been issued with official warnings.”

The girl who gave them the oil tested negative.

Her mother, Lisa Lockhart told the Courier her daughter Hunter had been made an unfair example of by the school.

“It was just a stupid lapse in judgement – when Hunter was confronted she immediately told the truth,” she said.

“We could have lied about it, but that’s not how I raise my children. Now they are painting her to be some kind of drug dealer.”

Lockhart said her daughter was a model student with no prior disciplinary record and questioned why the school was taking such a hard line.

“She is a well behaved, happy-go-lucky 16 year old who made one big mistake when she gave it to him at school. Now Ashton says the policy exists to ensure the safety of the kids – nobody needs to be ‘protected’ from Hunter.”

Van Buuren said Ashton had received a lot of support from parents following the incident and subsequent disciplinary measures.

“We have very young children here, not only teens. Who knows what one of them could pick up and put in their mouths,” she said.

“This is just one of the reasons Ashton remains firm on our policy regarding illegal substances.”

Lockhart accused the school of double standards, saying earlier this year a group of matrics were caught smoking cannabis on school property and were so inebriated, their parents were called to fetch them.

Van Buuren denied this, saying that the boys were caught in possession of a bong but there was no evidence that any illegal substance had been consumed.

Lockhart said her daughter had taken the whole affair very hard.

“We pulled her out of the exams because she couldn’t handle it. People even recognise and glare at Hunter when we are in the shops.

“It is important to remember that this was not only a violation of the school’s code of conduct, but it remains a criminal offence,” Van Buuren said.

“As a school, we have to protect our students from illegal substances, and we will go to every length to ensure we do.”

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