Department to resolve school problem
2013-02-28 14:33
Johannesburg - Meetings are underway in an attempt to resolve
problems at Wongalethu High School in Mdantsane, where there has been no
teaching for a week, the Eastern Cape education department said on Thursday.
"The department is currently attending to the matter
and our intention is to find an amicable solution to ensure teaching and
learning takes place there," said spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima.
The Dispatch Online reported earlier that teachers fled
the school during a protest last Wednesday, in fear of intimidation by pupils.
The Grade 12 pupils staged a protest after their only
maths teacher was redeployed to a neighbouring school.
They demanded his reinstatement.
"We are concerned that, in just a few months' time,
we will have to start with exams and we might fail because we do not have a
maths teacher," said Learner Representative Council head Lukhanyo Booi.
"We are forced to meet with our former teacher for
lessons after school in groups of 10 to 15. This is strenuous for us and for
him."
Pupils approached the Mdantsane police and the Mdantsane
Magistrate's Court to obtain a permit to protest on Monday.
They wanted permission to take their grievances to the
head office of the provincial education department in King William's Town, The
Dispatch Online reported.
However, they failed to secure transport to get to the
provincial department.
A meeting was then reportedly organised between teachers,
the school governing body, pupils and parents by Sihle Mnguni, the district
director of the education department's office in Mdantsane. Mnguni described
the meeting as a "listening-in session" and said that as such, he
could not reveal the details.
- SAPA
