Protesting pupils want principal removed
Scores of Masiphumelele High pupils protested outside the school calling for the immediate removal of the principal.
|||Durban -
Hundreds of Masiphumelele High School pupils staged a protest outside the school on Tuesday, barricading the gate with burning tyres and calling for the removal of the principal.
The demonstration followed a series of protests held by the pupils in an attempt to have their principal removed from his post.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk confirmed there were about 200 pupils outside the school gates, in Guinea Fowl Road, blocking the entrance by burning tyres.
“According to information gathered at the scene, the pupils were protesting because no formal teaching has taken place at the school since the beginning of the school term. They also demanded that the principal be removed from his post,” he said.
The protest, that started at 8.50am, was cleared up by the afternoon but public order police, metro police and traffic stayed behind to monitor the situation.
The chairman of the school’s governing body, Silulami Mtirara, said the reason for Tuesday’s protest was unclear.
“We are uncertain of the reasoning behind this protest. We just don’t know what the pupils want now.”
Mtirara said the governing body was handed a letter with a list of grievances by the pupils two weeks ago.
Included in that list was the removal of the principal for an alleged unfair suspension of 20 pupils, as well as the R10 monthly levy the pupils had to pay.
“We resolved at least 70 percent of the grievances they had. The 20 pupils were called back to school and the levy issue was resolved. Some of the issues were long term and needed the education department’s intervention – and they understood that.”
Mtirara said the students had not provided substantial reasons for their call for the principal’s removal.
“The principal is hired by the Department of Education, he cannot just be fired.”
The spokeswoman for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, Jessica Shelver, said they were aware of Tuesday’s “unrest and unruly behaviour”.
“We note with serious concern that a group of learners from Masiphumelele High School are intent on disrupting schooling for the entire school.
“This behaviour is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Shelver said a district official met with pupil representatives, the governing body and community representatives last week to discuss the grievances.
“The deputy principal has confirmed that the majority of the learners’ grievances have been resolved while some are currently being investigated,” she said.
zodidi.dano@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
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