AT the age of 13 a girl should not be wishing to “go to God” rather than live – nor should she be too scared to go to school or extramural activities.
Especially when this learner is one of the top performers in the school.
But this is the case of a girl who lives in Alberton and attends a local primary school.
MUST READ: Parents of bullied children are urged to take legal action against bullies
She was diagnosed with PNES (psychogenic non-epileptic seizures) after two other girls teased, mocked and hit her.
PNES are attacks that may look like epileptic seizures, but are not caused by abnormal brain electrical discharges. Sometimes a specific traumatic event can be identified in people with PNES.
Watch a video of a PNES attack here:
No help from the school
Bullying in schools is becoming increasingly prevalent. This girl’s mother went to the principal and addressed the situation after her daughter passed out multiple times after suffering panic attacks.
She went with her daughter’s psychologist to see the principal, head of department and one of her daughter’s teachers.
“The principal was of the opinion that it would be better for my daughter to move to another school. So my daughter has to be punished by going to another school, while the two girls who bullied her get to stay and finish their last primary school year, which is in a few weeks’ time,” said the mother.
According to her, the principal also offered to pay for new uniforms for the new school.
“This is not fixing anything. Why can the two girls stay in school while my daughter, who is an achiever and an excellent learner, has to go to another school?” she said.
Completely traumatised
The learner has been in the school since Grade One. Now she has to go through all of this trauma during her last year before high school. Now the mother is sitting not only with a daughter who doesn’t want to go out any more, but also with a medical bill of R49 622.
This girl can’t go to church anymore because the two bullies attend the same church. This is the case with her action netball activities too.
“She doesn’t even want to go to the mall due to fear of seeing them,” the mother said.
The mother emailed the deputy director general of education (DDG) Khume Ramulifho and Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi but has not received a response.
Meanwhile her daughter is at home getting copies of her schoolwork and doing self-study.
During the interview with the RECORD, her grandmother said the girl has changed a lot.
“She is suffering, and this at the age where she should enjoy being young,” the grandmother said.
The RECORD knows the name of the school and will get their comment as soon as it reopens.
The family will remain anonymous to protect the daughter.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
