School’s apathy irks parents
BRYANSTON - Craigavon resident, Duncan Barnes is concerned about his son’s education after receiving a letter from his son’s school saying that he was in danger of failing.
According to Barnes, Bryanston Parallel Medium has not offered educational support to his son, who he asked to not be named. Barnes requested daily reports from the school about his son’s behaviour and class work in order to keep abreast of his son’s progress.
A journalist examined the reports which contained comments such as ‘good’, ‘excellent’ or ‘well done’. However, at the end of the second term, Barnes received a letter from the school informing him that his son was in danger of failing, and that the school
had exhausted all options in terms of extra lessons and programmes.
“Not once have we ever been offered extra lessons, so I don’t know what they’re talking about,” Barnes said.
According to Barnes, he recently approached his son’s Afrikaans teacher for extra help and was allegedly told by the teacher that all his son needed to do was read a Huisgenoot magazine.
Barnes is also concerned about the alleged lack of discipline at the school. He claimed one day there was a physical altercation between his son and another boy. After the incident Barnes said he took his son to hospital where it was found that he had sustained a hairline fracture to his face.
“The school didn’t inform us when the incident happened,” Barnes said. Barnes said he did not deny his son’s involvement in the altercation. He claimed he met with the principal and was told that the incident was not a cause for concern. Barnes mentioned this was not the first time his son had complained of being singled out at school. Barnes said he pointed out to the principal that according to the school’s code of conduct, pupils involved in physical altercations should have been suspended. “I actually asked for my
own son to be suspended because he was also involved, but the school has not done that,” he said.
Phumla Sekhonyane of the Gauteng Department of Education said the department views such indcidents in a serious light and added that violence of any nature did not belong in schools. Referring to the daily reports, Sekhonyane said, “The provision of quality education was the number one priority of the department, and we cannot allow a situation where a pupil’s right to education was being compromised in any way.”
“We will facilitate a meeting between the parents of the pupil and the school management team to address the academic performance of the pupil.”
“We will also make an assessment of any other
support which can be provided to the pupil to ensure that his right to education is not compromised.”
The school declined to comment. A representative of the school governing body was only made aware of the situation when contacted byand did not have a comment at the time of going to press.
