An Eastern Cape teacher has been suspended pending an investigation into alleged c0rp0ral punishment at school.
Pictures are now circulating of social media as a pupil from Sandi Secondary School in Ntsundwane has a sw0llen hand due to the brutal @ss@ult.
Eastern Cape education MEC Fundile Gade condemned schools still using c0rp0ral punishment 28 years after its banning.
“Acts of this nature by educators seek to embarrass the sector and the profession because educator unions representing educators are signatories to the South African Schools Act which abolished c0rp0ral punishment and declared it a crime against children.
“We call on law-abiding citizens, including educators, to distance themselves from these malicious and barbaric acts. Failure to do so may lead to the termination of contracts for those found on the wrong side of the law,” said Gade.
Department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said the teacher has been suspended while the investigation is under way.
Parents are urged to open criminal case with the police when corporal punishments occurs says Mtima.
“Even in this case, the department will side with the victim and her parents will be encouraged to open a case of common @ss@ult with the police while the department is continuing its internal investigation,” he said.
The pupil and her peers at school will be included in a training workshop on what to do and where to report corporal punishment, said Mtima.
`The department says the victim will be given psychological support which includes debriefing and counselling as well as parents.`
“Gade urged stakeholders to respect the rule of law while teaching in schools.”
Source TimesLive
