THE situation at the troubled ZCC- owned Marobathota High School outside Polokwane continued yesterday as pupils carried on the class boycott.

This was despite an undertaking by the provincial department of education that things would be back to normal after the appointment of a departmental official to act as principal at the school.

Pupils at the school have been boycotting lessons for the past three weeks after they accused some of their teachers of being lazy.

The teachers had allegedly refused to work following an unpopular decision to appoint a member of the Professional Educators' Union as acting principal.

The teachers, most of whom belong to the South African Democratic Teachers Union, had been opposed to the appointment of the acting principal.

They complained that their preferred candidate was unceremoniously shown the door, apparently by the school governing body.

Yesterday, pupils were seen roaming around the school premises.

Some of them were basking in the sun while others were playing with the yard. Teachers were nowhere to be seen.

Attempts to gain entry into the school's premises were thwarted by the school's security guards, who referred us to the Mankweng circuit offices.

The circuit manager, David Magagane, later told Sowetan he had also been refused permission to enter into the school in his capacity as the acting principal.

It is hoped a meeting between ZCC leader Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane,senior officials from the department and the SGB held yesterday would resolve the impasse.

Spokesperson for the department of education, Pat Kgomo, confirmed yesterday that the meeting was on between the parties.