Jozini pupils and parents shut down school
The school governing body (SGB) attempted to intervene, but pupils refused to listen and demanded the presence of the KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu
PUPILS at Zwilenkosi High School in the KwaGedleza Reserve outside Jozini, have vowed not to return to class until the Department of Education provides them with an accounting subject teacher.
The chaos started last Monday when pupils boycotted classes and told teachers to go home.
The school governing body (SGB) attempted to intervene, but pupils refused to listen and demanded the presence of the KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu.
On Wednesday they shut down the school and ordered teachers to leave. They told their teachers and SGB members that they were waiting for MEC Mshengu to explain why he was failing to provide them with an accounting teacher.
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SGB Chairperson, Jabulani Nhleko, confirmed that teaching and learning stopped last Monday.
‘We have tried several avenues to engage with the Department of Education’s provincial and district offices, but have not received any assistance.
‘For now the school is closed. We will wait for the Department of Education to intervene,’ said Nhleko.
A Grade 11 learner, who asked not to be named, said they have been ignored for a long time.
‘We have been struggling to get accounting and maths teachers at this school for years. Last year our SGB tried to source a maths teacher from a neighbouring school.
‘Since the beginning of this year, we have had no accounting teacher. We have all the learning material, but we can’t use it because we teach ourselves.
‘When our parents demanded answers from the senior circuit inspector, he suggested the school should introduce tourism as a subject and do away with accounting.
‘Our problem here is that we don’t see anyone who can teach tourism either. To us it is clear that they are trying to destroy our future. We won’t back down, until the MEC for Education comes to the school,’ he said.
KZN Department of Education spokesperson, Kwazi Mthethwa, urged learners to return back to class as the matter was being dealt with by his department.
‘We know about their concerns. Boycotting classes won’t help them. The department is working on a solution. We urge learners to go back to school in the interim,’ Mthethwa said.
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