Almost 150 pupils were locked out of Sunrise Secondary School in Diepsloot and denied entry into the school on 19 July for arriving late.
Irate Grade 12 pupils called Fourways Review to register their displeasure over the lock-out which they said cost them valuable learning time.
“We were late by nine minutes and found the gate locked and were sent back home,” said one Grade 12 pupil who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.
“This is not serving any purpose because we are losing out on learning time. This happened yesterday[18 July], but we were chased out of class again today for yesterday’s sin.”
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The pupil added that he was frustrated by the lock-outs and called upon the education department to put a stop to this regular practice. “This is costing us and must be stopped by the department. Can you imagine that today our teacher simply instructed all Grade 12 pupils who were late yesterday to go back home.”
Fourways Review learnt from nearby residents that scores of children were turned away from the container school in Ext 5 on a daily basis. “This is a daily occurrence and we always see groups of pupils going back home before 9am after being locked out,” said a resident who declined to be identified.
Principal of the school, Nozipho Isabel Ramokgotswa, confirmed that the school had a lock-out policy. She said the school gate was being locked for the pupils’ security.
“If they arrive late and find the gate closed, then whose problem is that? We won’t open for them until they come back with their parents,” she said.
The Gauteng Department of Education’s acting spokesman, Oupa Bodibe, confirmed the ongoing lock-outs at the school, but apportioned the blame to parents. He, however, shied away from clarifying the department’s policy on latecomers, and neither condemned nor condoned the lock-out policy.
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“We are aware of the issue of late coming by Grade 12 pupils of the school which has since been attended to. According to the principal, the school has tried everything to put measures in place to alleviate the problem, but parents are not supporting the school,” said Bodibe.
He added that the principal would meet parents again on 24 July to discuss the issue of latecomers.
The department threw its tacit support behind Ramokgotswa, maintaining that the gate was being locked for security reasons. “It must be noted that school starts at 7am for Grade 12. Therefore, the school gates close at 8.15am for security reasons. We will continue to work with all affected parents to ensure that pupils abide by the school’s code of conduct. The district will closely monitor the situation at the school,” said Bodide.
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