MEC challenges late pupils

2010-07-20 12:48

Cape Town - Pupils late for school on Tuesday had some explaining to do - to provincial education MEC Donald Grant.

Grant took up position in the Golden Acre shopping centre next to Cape Town station on Tuesday morning, and challenged pupils as they came past.

He said learners who had to travel some distance to schools had in the past been quick to blame public transport for their tardiness.

"The reality is that... delays do not occur every day," he said on Tuesday.

"For instance, this morning, only one train arrived significantly late.

Woke up late

"Most of the trains arrived on time, and surprisingly, even the learners admitted to me that they simply woke up late.

"They need to be more disciplined, get to bed on time and wake up a bit earlier."

Grant said being late detracted from the department's goal of maximising teaching and learning time.

Latecomers also disrupted classes, disturbing fellow learners who made an effort to be at school on time.

He said he had been shown attendance registers at some schools where learners were marked late as many as 14 days of the month.

- SAPA