Teachers, principal suspended

2001-08-01 20:40

Bloemfontein - Four teachers and the principal of the Louis Botha Technical High School in Bloemfontein were suspended on Wednesday after allegations of racial practices and corporal punishment at the school surfaced, the Free State education department said.

Thirteen teachers and the principal were allegedly involved.

The department had conducted a preliminary investigation. "The results clearly indicated that there is a need for a full investigation."

Such a probe would start immediately.

Departmental spokesperson Manase Makwela said the teachers suspended were those against whom the most serious allegations had been levelled. The other nine teachers were still at the school.

"If we realise that any of them will jeopardise the investigation, we will suspend those people as well," Makwela said.

To prevent disruption of learning at the school, the department had temporarily appointed four teachers to take over from those suspended.

The deputy principal would act as headmaster.

"The suspended educators will remain suspended pending a departmental investigation into the alleged misconduct on their part," the statement said.

- SAPA