UPDATE: Gauteng Department of Education confirms details of Allen Glen High School 40 Days chaos

In the closing days of matric, a final window known as 40 Days opens and cooler heads seldom prevail.

Celebrations may have reached delirious levels at Allen Glen High School after the ceremonial ending of a school career drew widespread attention on October 21. Information shared by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) reveals that some matriculants 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 is to 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.

The GDE is wanting to take a more proactive approach in combating learner ill-discipline. This will focus on implement programmes to offset challenges in schools such as 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 all 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 all 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”.