UPDATE: Education department condemns boycott of classes over skinny pants

The Gauteng department of education has confirmed that learning and teaching at Hoёrskool Pretoria West on Monday went on as usual.

This follows the disruption of learning and teaching on Friday, where learners demanded the incorporation of skinny pants into the school’s uniform.

Gauteng department of education’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, said: “Officials dispatched to the school this morning confirmed that the protest emanated from two unruly learners who transgressed the code of conduct regarding uniform. Following a disciplinary process, the learners received a sanction of a 7-day suspension. Their 7 days lapsed on Thursday, wherein they began to coerce other learners to force the school to allow them to wear skinny pants, hence the said disruption on Friday.

“However, it is encouraging that the Grade 12 learners were allowed to write their pretrial examination.

“The two learners had also created a peer group on WhatsApp, which excluded the RCL, who have since joined to monitor the group. The SGB has decided to call a parents’ meeting to discuss the matter further, and in the interim, the school code of conduct remains in place. However, no learner must be denied access to education.”

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The department condemned the actions of the learners in the strongest terms, and urged all learners to use available structures at all times to raise issues of concern and not resort to disrupting classes.

Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said: “It is unfortunate and disappointing that we are distracted by what we regard as petty issues, which should not be our priority. Our focus is on enhancing the quality of education, which is performance-driven.

“We are preoccupied by pretrial examinations and preparations for final examinations.”

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Pupils boycott classes, demanding they can wear skinny pants