Teachers say community members’ anger misplaced
Education dept compiling report
Learning was again disrupted yesterday at the troubled Klipspruit West Secondary School after three teachers were barred from the school’s premises by angry community members.
The latest saga was sparked by allegations of intimidation and discrimination after several teachers were accused of calling learners “coloured bastards”, while also allegedly assaulting them.
Seven teachers downed tools in solidarity with those who were prevented from entering the school, leaving hundreds of pupils stranded for the remainder of the day.
Anthony Williams from Patriots for Equality blamed the Gauteng Department of Education for failing to deal with the allegations.
“The department has not been playing ball with us. There are a few teachers who have been calling children “coloured bastards” and another one who has been physically handling some of the children,” Williams said.
He said this recent development was aggravated by the disbanding of the school’s governing body by the education department a week ago.
“We asked (MEC Panyaza) Lesufi to meet us around a table, but they have decided to unilaterally take on the SGB without consultation and that is part of what we are doing today because we are upset with the department,” he said.
One of the teachers who was prevented from entering the school’s premises told Sowetan the disgruntled community members’ anger was misplaced. “These people are disrupting the school because they are not happy with a refurbishment project happening at this school.
“This is not about us as teachers; they want access to the resources of the school. This has nothing to do with us, but it has everything to do with that project because it has money,” said the teacher.
He said racial tensions in the school were being stirred by a small number who had no interest in education.
Another teacher said she did not know why they were prevented from accessing the school. “I don’t know about the allegations, but I heard them saying that I must go teach in Chiawelo because that’s where black people belong.”
Gauteng education department spokesman Steve Mabona said the department was aware of the complaints by the community, but criticised them for being opportunistic and failing to allow investigations to be completed.
“We know about the allegations. The head of the department is finalising the report ... We are left confused because they are not letting the process to be completed,” he said.