Why girl hit teacher

Pressure brought on by her school workload is apparently what led to a Vereeniging schoolgirl throwing a book at her teacher, according to the Gauteng department of education.

A cellphone video of the incident has been circulating on social media since last week. It shows the teacher walking away from the pupil, after having the book hurled at her.

Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona told The Citizen “it is alleged that the teacher wanted to confiscate a book from a pupil who refused, subsequently pages were torn from the book. Hence, the pupil pelted the book at the teacher”.

Gauteng education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, who visited the school yesterday to ensure the disciplinary process was under way, explained that the girl had been anxious about a test she was supposed to write immediately after the lesson. The altercation started when the teacher insisted that she concentrate during her lesson.

“Because it was a double period, immediately after that period she was supposed to write a business economics test, and she was ill-prepared for that test, and she wanted to take advantage of the double period to prepare for the test,” said Lesufi.

This prompted the teacher to try to confiscate the book.

Lesufi said that while the girl’s behaviour was unacceptable, the School Governing Body (SGB), teachers and parents confirmed the incident was isolated, as the school did not have a problem with ill-mannered pupils.

The SGB has suspended the girl until her disciplinary hearing. However, she will be allowed to continue to write assessments.

He said he met with the teacher in question, as well as the girl and her parents. He confirmed that the girl was receiving psycho-social support and that he was pleased that the learning process at the school was going on normally.

Lesufi said if the girl is found guilty, she could face expulsion.

The department, which initiated the investigation, says it is almost done. “We await the [disciplinary] process and expect an appropriate action to be taken. It must be mentioned that this is a serious misconduct in our environment,” said Mabona.