No to pens-down parties
"Pens-down parties" have been banned by the Department of Education, as we fast approach the end of final examinations across the province.
MBOMBELA – This was stated by the MEC, Ms Reginah Mhaule, when she announced that the department is satisfied that the National Senior Certificate Examination has progressed without any serious challenges and is coming to an end next Tuesday.
“To this effect, the department is making a clarion call to candidates to remain focused and to desist from participating in pens-down parties.
“Pens-down parties’ are events where learners, especially grade 12s, celebrate the end of exams. Often these parties lead to tragic incidents.
“The department requests parents be alert and monitor the movement of their children and discourage them from participating in such acts.
“Furthermore, the department requests owners of liquor stores and taverns to make it their obligation that learners do not buy alcohol in their premises.
“We appeal to parents and members of the community to discourage these activities, since they have the potential to rob our children of their bright futures.
“Equally, our children need to know that there are more important things in life. There are people who lost everything because of these activities. It is based on that experience that we are issuing this warning.
We encourage our learners to instead donate their school uniform to their respective schools to be used by those who may need it the most, instead of tearing it,” said Mhaule.
The department has already written to all its secondary schools, requesting management to discourage candidates from such practices.
