All learners involved in east school brawl must be disciplined, says dept
The education department appealed to the parents to help maintain discipline in and outside the school.
Willowridge High School in the east of Pretoria has been advised to take disciplinary measures against all the learners involved in the persistent brawls, according to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE).
This follows parents claiming that not all the learners involved in the violent actions were subjected to any sort of disciplinary action by the school.
GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said disciplinary action in terms of the school code of conduct should be instituted against the parties involved.
“The school is urged to enforce its codes of conduct to deal with disciplinary matters,” Mabona said.
He appealed to parents to assist in maintaining discipline in and outside the school.
“The department ensures that proper procedures are followed, the disciplinary hearing and psychosocial support. Schools are assisted to come up with preventative measures, to curb the possibilities of recurrence.”
He said district officials, inclusive of the psycho-social support team, have been assigned to assist the school.
Mabona said that the parents of the two learners injured were notified accordingly.
“The department is only aware of two learners who were hospitalised. One of them was a result of a panic attack which was triggered by her asthmatic medical condition. The other learner sustained injuries.”
The parents claimed the instigators of the fights were walking scot-free.
“We demand justice, we want all the instigators, which are the Grade 11 boys to be disciplined accordingly.”
Previously the department and the school governing body told Rekord that the two learners injured during the brawl on March 15 were taken to a clinic and their parents were notified immediately.
However, a parent of the injured learner denied the claim to Rekord on May 7.
“The school and the department lied that they informed me that my son was injured,” she said.
The mother’s identity is kept anonymous to protect the identity of her child.
She said her son was not taken to the clinic as the department said. Instead, she is the one who took him to a hospital where he remained for four days because his chin and jaw were severely injured.
“He was allegedly hit with a golf club by a fellow learner who has yet to be punished for the act.”
The mother alleged that due to the injuries, the son still could not chew properly.
“My son is injured in the left jaw, left eye socket, neck and left side of the face.”
The department and the SGB previously told Rekord the fights were new to the school, which was also disputed by parents.
The parents said fights were registered in January, February and March.
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