Parents disappointed
Pretoria pupils’ skinny pants protest ‘unacceptable’
Some of the Pretoria West High School parents whose children boycotted classes last week, demanding to wear skinny pants as part of their school uniform, said the behaviour was atrocious.
Parents voted against the amendment to the school’s code of conduct that would have allowed skinny pants to be incorporated into pupils’ uniform.
Marcus Mokoena, 48, father of a Grade 8 pupil, was part of the parent’s meeting and said they voted against the idea because they sent the kids to school to learn.
“What they did last week was atrocious considering that we pay lots of money for their education. I was not impressed with their behaviour. We did not enrol them here for a fashion parade,” he said.
“It is a good thing that we speak with one voice with other parents because we sent these children to school to get an education, not to fight for tight pants. This behaviour is totally not acceptable.”
Eniba Shibandekano, 35, the mother of a Grade 8 pupil, said: “I was ashamed and embarrassed by the behaviour of our children. Some pupils are fighting for quality education and textbooks but they had to disturb school to be allowed to wear skinny pants. A child needs to be representable in a school uniform.
“Imagine if they were to be allowed to wear these skinny pants; some of them would be teased because of their body shapes then we will end up having children who do not want to go to school.”
Matriculants echoed the parents’ voices. Student Representative Council president Karabo Nene, 18, a Grade 12 pupil, said she was disappointed by the behaviour.
“The Grade 12s were not part of the skinny pants saga. We are writing our preliminary exams and it is only Grade 11s downwards who are fighting for these tight pants. This … was a privilege for matriculants. It was so disappointing to see pupils putting fashion first, instead of prioritising their school work. Our school has a lot to offer but we are trending because of skinny pants.”
Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said he is encouraged and satisfied with the decision taken by parents.
“… as parents we must always take charge of our children’s behaviour …. Illdiscipline must not be tolerated in our schooling environment.”
Learning continued normally yesterday.