Teacher not off hook over strip instruction

A teacher from Rosebank Junior School in Cape Town is facing disciplinary action after he allegedly ordered pupils to partially strip because of theft at the school.

The sports coach‚ who was appointed by the SGB‚ allegedly gave the instruction after money belonging to two pupils went missing.

Western Cape education department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said a meeting was held with parents of the school’s grade 6 pupils on Monday, following the incident last week.

Hammond said the conduct of the coach was not acceptable or in line with procedure.

“The principal has reported that the parents who were present at the meeting accepted the fact that the intention was not to cause embarrassment or humiliation‚ but rather to try and resolve the theft issue‚” Hammond said.

She said counselling and support would be provided for the pupils at the school.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut confirmed that a case of crimen injuria had been opened.

At Abedare Primary in Delft last week‚ an allegation surfaced that some pupils were locked up as punishment for

‘The parents . . . accepted the intention was not to cause . . . humiliation’ Bronagh Hammond

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON

not having R2 on casual day.

Hammond said the department investigated the incident and asked both the teacher and the pupils to provide their versions of events.

“In all cases‚ the teacher‚ assistant and the learners confirmed that they were not locked in a classroom.

“The accused teacher left the classroom with the rest of the class to attend a Miss Valentine function in the school hall,” Hammond said.

“The learners who had not paid the R2 were asked to go to this specific classroom.”

She said there were a total of 16 pupils from two classes in the room‚ supervised by the teacher’s assistant.

“They all confirmed that the security gate was not locked‚ but closed . . . learners were in and out of the classroom.”

The department also informed schools that fundraisers during school time which excluded pupils were unacceptable.