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Gaum urges calm at demo school
24/03/2004 18:56 - (SA)
Cape Town - Western Cape education MEC André Gaum has condemned the actions of a community which led to incidents of public violence and a primary school being closed.
"I condemn these actions taken by members of the local community in the strongest possible terms.
"It is totally unacceptable for any member of a school community to disrupt teaching and mobilise learners and community members to damage school property in any situation," said Gaum.
Gaum was responding to the closure of Trevor Manuel Primary School at Fisantekraal on the outskirts of Durbanville.
Earlier on Wednesday, pupils stoned teachers and vehicles at the school, resulting in damage to property and two teachers being treated for minor injuries.
Three youths were also arrested.
Barry Volschenk of the Western Cape education department said pupils at Trevor Manuel Primary started toyi-toying on Tuesday and emotions boiled over on Wednesday.
"Two teachers were injured and cars were damaged," he said, alluding to possible long-running tensions at the school without elaborating.
'Wanted to be taught solely in English'
The police were called in to disperse the unruly pupils, and school closed early.
Volschenk said the pupils' demands were unclear, but that reports of pupils wanting to be taught solely in English, was something new.
"(I) think this is a smokescreen," he said, adding that the medium of instruction had never been an issue, with both English and Afrikaans offered, and Xhosa for juniors.
Volschenk said senior education officials met the school principal and staff on Wednesday afternoon.
It was decided, because of safety concerns for pupils and teachers alike, to suspend school, with normal activities expected to resume on Monday.
The school goes up to Grade 9 and has about 1 200 pupils.
Captain Eugene Sitzer said three minors had been arrested on charges of public violence.
Sitzer said police had to restrain the crowd, but did not provide details, saying a full report still had to be compiled.
According to Gaum, trauma counselling had been made available to pupils and teachers after Wednesday's events.
Gaum urged the community and pupils to deal with the various concerns and conflicts in "a responsible manner".
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