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HUMAN rIGHTS CHECK FOR SUICIDE BOY SCHOOL

Scottsville Primary School. © Unknown
Scottsville Primary School. © Unknown

THE SA Human Rights Commission will today visit Scottville Primary School in Pietermaritzburg after a 13-year-old pupil, S'duduzo Qulo, hanged himself.

He hanged himself after telling his mother that he did not want to return to the same school to be taught by a "racist" teacher next year.

Commission spokesperson Vincent Moaga said they were concerned about the reported allegations.

"We condemn any action that seeks to undermine the right of learners to an education and will work with other stakeholders to ensure that teaching takes place in an environment that is conducive to learning," Moaga said.

He said that they were also investigating an incident in a school in Mpumalanga in the Lowveld, where a teacher is alleged to have used racial language when he spoke to a pupil.

"Subsequent to his lodging a complaint the pupil was dismissed from the school, apparently as a result of a decision taken by its governing body," he said.

He said it was important for all stakeholders to revisit its recommendations report on Racism, "Racial Integration" and Desegregation in South African Public Secondary Schools to see whether the recommendations are being implemented.

The report called for, among other things, the establishment of anti-discrimination policies in each school and the provision of anti-discrimination training for district officials, governing bodies, teachers and pupils.

Also that anti-racist teaching practices be made a compulsory component of both In-service Education and Training and Pre-service Education and Training for Teachers.

"It is very disturbing that the school environment continues to be characterised by racial discrimination and in some instances violence," he said.

The commission will also monitor how the KwaZulu-Natal department of education's investigation into this matter is progressing.

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