Cape Town — The Free State Department of Education has launched an investigation into the incident that occurred between a teacher and a pupil at HTS Welkom earlier this month.
In a statement, department The incident, which happened on 2 September, showed a learner and a teacher involved in a scuffle on the floor of a classroom over a cellphone. It is alleged that the teacher had asked the learner to turn off the cellphone, and he refused. A scuffle occurred and another learner filmed it. No one else in the class moved to break it up, and other learners were heard laughing.
Education department MEC, Dr Mamiki Julia Maboya, condemned the video in the strongest way possible and said it would be taking this matter very seriously.
“Such ill-discipline will not be tolerated. Schools are for development, not for any other self-defeating activities. As such, we are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident, and we will act decisively in remedying and redressing the situation” said MEC Maboya.
According to TimesLIVE, Sibusiso Majola from the department, said the investigation would be completed soon and disciplinary recomendations will be heard next week.
“There has been an investigation and that process is about to be concluded. At this stage, we are about to have a final report and the public will be briefed on that,” he said.
He explained that the process had been prolonged due to the involvement of multiple stakeholders, including teacher representations (trade unions) and the SGB. He reiterated that the department was taking this seriously.
While the circumstances surrounding the altercation are unclear, he said the department was treating the case seriously.
WATCH BELOW:
We have a serious discipline crisis in our schools. No student should ever lay their hands on a teacher. We cannot end up with a country where teachers teach from bullet proof windows. pic.twitter.com/dtlRrEX0TG
— Mmusi Maimane MP (@MmusiMaimane) September 11, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
