Update

GEORGE NEWS - The district office of the Western Cape Education Department was to engage with management at Imizamo Yethu Secondary School after a group of learners was barred from entering the school premises when they arrived late for school.

Bronagh Hammond, director of communication at the Western Cape Education Department, said learners may not be refused entry into a school for being late and the district office is following up with the school pertaining to the incident.

Responding to a query from George Herald, Hammond said while at some schools there are often very valid reasons for coming late, especially commuter schools, there are instances where learners are habitually late. 

"Schools must deal with this on a case by case basis, and monitor each learner's attendance, as well as address habitual latecomers' parents or guardians on this behaviour.

"Learners who arrive late for school can not only affect the learner that is late, due to the loss of learning time, but can also be disruptive for other learners in the class. The department is continuously engaging with schools with regard to latecoming."

She said schools can take various disciplinary approaches when dealing with latecomers, such as detention, compulsory after-school activities, or physical activities such as picking up litter.

Measures to curb latecoming varies from school to school. While some measures such as detention work at some schools, at others it may not. Therefore, schools need to determine what measures would best work for them.

Apiwe Hewu, one of the latecomers, told the newspaper that some of the children had gone home.

He said learners have to be at school at 07:50. He arrived at 08:00. He said some of the learners had to write tests.

The headmaster, Phumla Cona, was not at the school when George Herald was on the premises to ask for comment. The deputy headmaster did not want to comment and asked the newspaper to phone later. Phone messages were left, but no response had been received.

Police members on the scene

Sgt Chris Spies, Southern Cape police spokesperson, confirmed that police members were dispatched to the school following a commotion at the entrance to the premises. He said no cases were opened.

Schools Act

The South African Schools Act states that any person who, without just cause, prevents a learner who is subject to compulsory attendance, from attending a school, is guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction, to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months.

In the proposed Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (that is to amend the Schools Act) the above stipulation is proposed to make provision for a jail sentence of up to 12 months. 

The bill is soon to be advertised for public comment.

Previous articles: