Parliament, Tuesday, 1 August 2017 – Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has noted with grave concern issues of gangsterism in most of the schools that it has visited so far in the Western Cape over the last two days.
The Committee has furthermore noted the latest media reports that a Grade 10 learner at Bonteheuwel High School was injured yesterday by a stray bullet. According to reports, the bullet went through a classroom window and hit the learner on the leg.
Committee Chairperson, Ms Nomalungelo Gina, condemned this violence in the strongest possible terms. “Our learners should be in a safe environment where they can focus on education in an attempt to better their lives and not fear for their lives. All stakeholders should work together to ensure an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching,” she said.
Over the last two days the Committee visited several schools around the Cape Metro and in several schools in Langa, Gugulethu, Khayalitsha and Manenberg. Principals and teachers raised concerns around gangsterism. The Committee heard that although most times a fight does not start inside the school grounds, it however has a tendency to spill over and manifests itself in the form of revenge attacks. The Committee heard yesterday that in one school, four learners have already lost their lives since the start of the year due to such attacks. Even primary school learners are not spared and the Committee heard that last year a Grade 7 learner was shot and killed over a weekend.
Ms Gina made a plea to all the parties involved to come up with a plan to address this – as learners cannot fear for their safety on or outside of the school grounds. “Our learners and youth are our future. We cannot play with their lives or allow outside elements to put them at risk.”
The Committee continues with its oversight visit in the Western Cape tomorrow with visits to schools in the Cape Winelands area of Paarl. Please find attached the draft programme for the visit.
Click here to view the programme.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION, MS NOMALUNGELO GINA
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Name: Rajaa Azzakani (Ms)
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