PARENTS, REO ATTACKED BY PUPILS IN MEETING

MANZINI – Parents and the Acting Manzini Regional Education officer (REO) had to flee from a meeting as they were attacked by rowdy pupils.

This happened at Emvimbeko High School, which is located under Ntondozi Constituency. This was during a meeting set to formulate a way forward in the school following that last Tuesday, pupils boycotted classes resulting in its closure. The pupils attacked their parents who were in the meeting with the acting Regional Education Officer, Sizwe Kunene and other officials, in the school hall. According to impeccable sources, the pupils started demanding to be part of the meeting just after it had started. This resulted in them, according to the sources, gatecrashing and entered the hall to partake in the proceedings.

Meeting

Upon joining the proceedings, it was claimed that the pupils became unruly and interrupted the meeting, resulting in some parents calling the police.  It was gathered that the pupils had in a meeting held with the office of the REO raised concerns that they were not happy with the resolutions taken by their parents. The learners had last week Tuesday petitioned the administration demanding that there should be a reduction in the number of strokes administered when receiving corporal punishment. They claimed that they received over 20 strokes, which was too much for them. Another demand was that pupils who were late should not be turned back home as it was a waste of bus fare and deprived them of the opportunity to learn, which was their right.
They also complained about wearing one school uniform and demanded that the school incorporates the wearing of T-shirts with trousers and skirts on Fridays.

Plait

They als,o among other things, informed the administration that they wanted to plait their hair. However, it was gathered that some of these decisions were taken by parents in consultation with the administration. Despite this, the pupils relayed to the acting REO that they were not in support of these decisions. Kunene confirmed that the pupils yesterday gate-crashed the meeting demanding to partake. He said seeing their insistence to be in the meeting, they were requested to choose representatives. He said this fell on deaf ears as they were adamant to be part of the meeting. Kunene said this resulted in his delegation abandoning the meeting as the circumstances did not permit it to continue. This, he said, was after the arrival of the police. When sought to clarify what would happen next as the school had been closed since last Tuesday, Kunene said: “It is tough as it is hard to work in such conditions. We are still to consult the ministry.” He bemoaned that some pupils were scheduled to sit for their external examinations next Monday and such acts were disturbing them just like the class boycotts were also affecting learners as they should be learning.

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