Tardy pupils face lockout
School’s no latecomers’ notice raises fears for children’s safety
ANOTICE pasted in Gelvan Park Primary School pupils’ books has infuriated parents concerned over their children’s safety as it informs them the school gates will be locked at 8am, not allowing any late pupils on the premises without prior arrangements.
This comes as a result of continuous tardiness, with pupils arriving after the morning bell has rung and disrupting classes, according to the school.
Principal Sinomie Lewis stated in the letter that pupils are to “turn back home if . . . not here on time”.
A mother of two pupils at the school, Phumza Jonas, 32, of Kwazakhele, said her children made use of public transport and sometimes the buses ran late.
“When I saw this note, it did not sit well with me at all because I am sure a big majority of the school’s kids make use of public or other transport, like my kids,” Jonas said.
“We stay in Kwazakhele and sometimes they miss the first bus which stops in a lot of places.
“Then they take the second one and they are late for school.
“These things happen but now our kids won’t be allowed to go to school if they are late, which is concerning.
“Where must they go if they are late?” she said. Jonas has a daughter in Grade 6 at the school who looks after her Grade 2 son when they use the bus.
“What will happen if they get to school and are not allowed inside?” she said. “My kids won’t be safe hanging around the school.
“And taking a taxi in the mornings is also not something I would want them to do because that is less safe than the bus.
“I don’t have another plan to get to the school and back.
“I feel this was done without any parents’ input – it was decided by the principal and therefore it is law.”
Carmen Thorne, 36, of Gelvandale, who has a son in Grade 3, said the letter came as a shock.
“I feel they should properly explain themselves and not just paste [the notice] in our children’s books.
“Unfortunately I cannot drop my child off at school personally and so he takes transport to school, and sometimes they are late. What must my vulnerable child do then?”
Thorne said that for parents their children’s wellbeing was a top priority and should be treated as such by the school as well.
“They use the Facebook page to communicate a lot of important things and now they just send this out and expect us to be OK with leaving our children in harm’s way. This is a good school, but what they are stating in this letter is not on,” she said.
“I am not willing to leave my minor child outside the school where anything can happen to him.”
Parent Christopher le Roux posted the letter on the school’s Facebook page, which saw many disgruntled parents comment about their children’s safety.
Le Roux’s post read: “Anyone have more information about the security purposes that [are] being mentioned here please. My kids ride transport and I’m not happy with the part of leaving my child outside if the transport is late, which for all reasons is not in my control.”
Lewis declined to comment on the matter but instructed the school’s secretary, who declined to be named, to comment.
“Mrs Lewis sent out this letter to encourage pupils to stop running late because there is a lot going on in the area and we need to lock the gates at 8am,” the secretary said.
“We know when accidents happen or the transport is stuck in traffic, we can understand that.
“But coming late is a problem at our school and Mrs Lewis sent out the letter as part of her duties in running the school.”