Matric pupils suspended for wanting to learn
Five matric pupils from Eden Park have been suspended for complaining about not having a maths teacher for months.
EDEN PARK – Eden Park Secondary School came under fire for suspending pupils when they complained about not having a teacher in class.
Deputy Secretary of an NGO Equal Education was quoted by Times LIVE as saying, “You would expect that the principal would support these pupils because, actually, they are trying to get more [human] resources for the school.
“I am not sure why the school is taking action against them instead of supporting them. It is completely wrong. These pupils are exercising their citizenship and their rights.
“These pupils have been punished twice. First because they are attending a school without resources and they are being punished again when they raise this issue,” said Isaacs.
The last time the pupils had a maths lesson was on February 4.With the June examinations looming, they sought answers from the principal but could not secure a meeting with him.
Times LIVE reported, “Last month, the pupils took a bold step – out of class during school hours to complain to the Gauteng department of education.
“Following a report in The Times about their plight, the department appointed a mathematics teacher. But the school suspended the pupils and charged them with the following:
Leaving school premises without permission;
- Disobeying the deputy principal when he warned them not to leave; and
- Bringing the school’s name into disrepute by speaking to The Times.
The pupils were suspended from May 6 and are to face disciplinary action on Monday.
One of them, Larry Varrie jnr, faces additional charges for inciting his peers to act.
At a parents’ meeting last month his father, Larry Varrie, questioned the school principal about the absence of the maths teacher.
Varnie was quoted as saying, “He said he was not at liberty to discuss the matter. My son did nothing wrong. All he did was complain.”
A Gauteng department of education spokesperson, Phumla Sekhonyane, said it was concerned about the charges.
Sekhonyane said the department would engage with the governing body on the charge and send school interventions team to assess the situation.
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