"We'll jail booze kids"
Arrest of bunking pupils welcomed
TEACHERS and parents, gatvol with bunking pupils, have welcomed calls for the arrest of pupils found loitering during school hours.
Mpumalanga is leading the way with safety and security MEC Vusi Shongwe on Friday ordering the police to arrest schoolchildren found roaming the streets in school uniform during school hours.
"We will also arrest pupils found in taverns or shebeens during school hours," Shongwe said.
The latest tough stance highlights a hardening attitude towards rampant ill discipline among pupils as the new school year unfolds.
The call has received support from teachers and parents alike. They said it was long overdue.
Last week Limpopo health and social development MEC Miriam Segabutla complained that hair styles and make-up had negatively contributed to the dismal performance of female matriculants.
She felt the time children spent titivating could best be used to improve their performance.
Segabutla also warned that pupils who did not adhere to dress codes "will be dealt with".
She was addressing hundreds of pupils at Mopje Secondary School in Bolobedu South, which had the worst provincial matric pass rate.
A day later executive mayor for the Mopani district municipality Joshua Matlou told pupils that designer clothes and shoes were not permitted at school.
Pupils grumbled.
"He is jealous because during years of schooling he did not have the luxury to dress as he pleased," said one pupil.
In Soweto last week pupils photographed drinking alcohol in the street on their way to school have since been suspended.
Ronny Makalla of Lefiso Village in Mpumalanga, whose child is in Grade 10, praised the MEC.
"We as parents expect our children to be in class seven hours a day. If they do illegal things we will now be made aware of it.
"I was so shocked when I saw in the Sowetan last week pupils sipping cider on their way to school late. What we saw clearly is the tip of an iceberg and something needs to be done."
A teacher, Dintlhana Moagi of Malatse High School in Mpumalanga, said: "This call is long overdue and why limit it to Mpumalanga? It should apply to other provinces as well."
Boas Ramollo, a teacher at Dikgabo Combined School in Lefiso village, said: "This call by the MEC will surely enhance the culture of teaching and learning at our schools and help maintain discipline among our pupils."
Angel Ally, a teacher at Thembeka Secondary in KaNyamazane, said: "This will certainly help our children focus on their studies because they won't be hanging around in townships during school hours."
Ally said pupils arrived early, but most classes were half empty after break as pupils go to nearby taverns.
"We as teachers are then blamed when they fail at the end of year."
Sdom
What about the future of these kinds who will not just be labelled drunks but criminals, MEC this is an easy way out for you and very irresponsible to even consider, this is not the correct remedy for the situation.Report Abuse
NIKITAH
let this stupid kids go to jail and i wish that they can be sodomised there so that their minds can be opened by jail birds these children dont have a future and they are wasting their parents moneyReport Abuse
Whiteboy
This should have happened long time ago, not just after some stupid article of students drinking ciders to school last week, that the gov starts taking initiative of this issuie.Gov need something to do something, cant it take initiative of such. Fok!Report Abuse
Ucingo
And the charge sheet would read" Charged for roaming the street in school uniform?" Unless they drink in public they can be jailed and pay admission of guilt.Report Abuse
Keafixa
wat would be the charge......lawyers are going to make more money out of this cases.Report Abuse
ThabiZandi
Maybe this might have a good influence on the learners &the passing rate can improve. Let us give MEC Shongwe the benefit of the dought. Teachers &parents are trying in giving this kids some direction but the situation is still bad. Maybe involving the law would really have a good impact.Report Abuse
tsayaya
Serves the government right, firsty they abolished corporal punishment and left teachers with no alternative method, then they allow little girls to get pregnant and abort without informing their parents, now they are getting them arrested, poor govt!Report Abuse
biggiebiggie
you cant believe we parents are the root of all , we let the kids do anything they please and start blaming whoever comes with a solution, for one @ sdom the mec has brought this solution hoping order can be restored and hope you are also allowed come with the solution, kids are running parents and teachers lives they do everything they want and they can't be punished--- fine, why not respect school like it should be, adhere to the school regulations, 1] school uniform dress-code,be on time, no cellphones/ipods allowed, no designer clothes let the teachers take control and lay the school law let there be discipline at school,school must be respected kids are there to be taught not to control teachers, or you parents what do you suggest, plz lets help each other hereReport Abuse