The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education and the Select Committee on Education and Recreation today visited schools in the Lady Frere District as part of their oversight responsibility to monitor schools.
During one visit by the delegation led by Portfolio Committee on Education Chairperson, Ms Nomalungelo Gina, to Echibini Senior Secondary School, the Committees noted the challenges raised by the acting school principal of ill-discipline by learners. The issue of the use of dagga on the school grounds, absenteeism, late coming of learners and teenage pregnancies were also highlighted.
During the visit, some Members of the Committees found dagga, wrapped in pages of workbooks provided by the department, on the school grounds. “We are disturbed by this. This is part of the ill-discipline mentioned by the acting school principal. This cannot be allowed to continue. Drastic steps must be taken. Learners are at school to learn,” Ms Gina emphasised.
She said the national Department of Basic Education developed a National Strategy for the Prevention and Management of alcohol and drug use among learners in schools. Ms Gina said schools at times mirrored the surrounding the communities and curbing drug use in schools would in turn prevent drug use within the communities.
The Committees urged the school to formulate a Code of Conduct for learners and to implement it stringently. The Committees indicated the relationship between the Department of Basic Education and the South African Police Service needed further strengthening in an attempt to root out these social ills.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairpersons, please contact:
Rajaa Azzakani (Ms)
Tel: 021 403 8437
Cell: 081 703 9542
E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
