Learners are back in class at Mjindini secondary school

BARBERTON- Learners are back in classes at Mjindini secondary school after teaching and learning came to a standstill yesterday when matric learners allegedly boycotted classes.
Mpumalanga News learned that mayhem started when some grade 12s refused to fill in forms to write subjects falling in the multiple examination opportunity (MEO).

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“They were only few learners who influenced other learners to cause havoc, disturbing classes because they don’t want to write this exam. They started by throwing stones in classrooms. They became so unruly after the arrival of police, they even threw bottles at police vehicles,” said source who cannot be named to protect her identity.
A  Mpumalanga News journalist on site learned that some of the learners were threatening to burn down the school. Police are currently patrolling around the school premises.

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Jasper Zwane, spokesperson for the Department of Education, said the department was not aware that some learners don’t understand the purpose of the multiple examination opportunity.
He said this type of an exam gives learners an opportunity to write some of their subjects in November and some of the subjects in June.

He adds that such interventions were designed by department of education nationally to help progressed learners pass their exams.
“The learner allowed the MEO must write a minimum of three subjects on the November examination (excluding life orientation) and must write the remaining subjects in June examination of the following year,”he added.