Teacher, pupils strive for safer environment
A TEACHER from Cedar High School in Mitchells Plain took it upon himself to raise awareness about violence experienced by his pupils both at school and in the community.
Colin Edwards hosted a campaign where pupils voiced their concern about violence in the learning environment. Edwards said they need to find ways to make schools and communities much safer places. Pupils from the school took part in the demonstration and later a memorandum was handed over to the Department of Education and it included practical solutions from pupils and teachers on how to solve the “crisis”.
“Learners come to school and are already experiencing violence and they walk in and there is no one to assist them. Learners travel with public transport and they are being robbed on their way to school.”
He said pupils were afraid and referred to the situation as a ticking time bomb.
“Learners come to school with weapons, even guns. This is violence that comes from the community and this is being role-modelled in our schools.”
He said it was sad that violence has become the norm for children in the area “and that needed to change”.
Grade 10 pupil Morgan Gideon said it was important that the matter be dealt with and some pupils were afraid to come back to school after being victims of violence.