George Campbell learners return to classrooms after disruptive protests
Learners had barricaded entrances to the school entrance, in response to the alleged racism at the school.
FOLLOWING days of protest by learners at George Campbell School of Technology, linked to bubbling racial tensions, calm was restored on Monday.
On Thursday, learners barricaded entrances to the school and prevented parents, staff and union members from entering or leaving the grounds, in response to what learners say is racism they experience at the school.
A video and a voice note which the Berea Mail has seen, shows a staff member engaged in a fist fight with a learner and in another, the video shows learners disrupting classes.
ALSO WATCH: Golfers behaving badly goes viral
According to the learners racism has been an issue at the school for a number of years, and has been brought to the attention of those authority but nothing has been done. The learners said teachers regularly called black learners monkeys and other offensive terms and said the latest protest was the fifth protest they staged this year.
“This has been going on for a very long time. It has become a norm for them to call us in offensive terms. We are also tired of protesting. The school must deal with the staff members who are racists towards black learners, they need to stop being concerned about the image of the school rather than the well-being of learners,” said a learner who did not want to be identified for fear of victimization.
Meanwhile, the two teachers at the school who have been accused of racism, have been suspended pending an investigation into the allegations levelled against them. The Department of education spokesperson, Kwazi Mthethwa said it had been decided that the two teachers involved be suspended pending an investigation.
“One is alleged to have called the boys monkeys and the other reportedly assaulted a pupil,” she said.
ALSO READ: Former Glenwood headmaster back in court
Parents have voiced their concerns over the protests which not only disrupted classes but also put added stress on matrics who have trials looming. Speaking to the Berea Mail, one parent who asked not to be identified said: “These kids should be in class learning not hitting adults. As a mom, I am stressing for my son who is in matric. Racism is a curse in this land, if a teacher ever used the K word, they should be disciplined by departmental systems not beaten by kids. However, with regards to the monkey issue, I have been told that teachers have in frustration told the whole class, when they have been out of control to, “calm down and stop jumping around LIKE monkeys”.
Remember classes are multiracial so not directed at any race, just the descriptiveness of the class as a whole.”
However, in one voice recording given to the Berea Mail, learners can clearly be heard taking a teacher to task because she allegedly referred to them as “monkeys” as they sat on a wall.
ALSO READ: DUT student appeals, ‘help complete building project’
The boys can be heard politely pointing out to the teacher that they did not like being called monkeys, saying it was racist and asked her not to do it again. The teacher replies that she will try, but cannot promise to never do it again.
Another voice note which has been released via social media, claims that the boys responsible for the recent riots at the school are allegedly part of a group of boys who are failing the year and who have resorted to wreaking havoc. In the voice note it is alleged tha ,the group planned to cause protests at the school to force the Department of Education to pass them.
School principal, Mr DH Plug, in a statement released this week, aplogised for the disruptions at the school.
“Extensive meetings with the District Director, Circuit Managers and Governing Body have been held. Plans will be put in place to make up for the teaching time lost as a result of the unfortunate events of the past three school days.There will be a presence at the school from both the Education Department and SAPS, to ensure that proper normality is immediately restored at our institution. Disruptions of this nature cannot be tolerated under any circumstances,” he said.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
