MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Parents of learners at Indwe Secondary School in KwaNonqaba are up in arms about the safety of their children at the school.
Scores of parents visited the school on Wednesday morning to demand answers from the principal on what is being done to ensure their children are not harmed when at school.
This follows an incident on Tuesday, 9 April, when a fight broke out among male learners. In the process, two learners suffered serious knife wounds.
There seems to be confusion about whether the fight was on the school premises or not. However, the group of angry parents told the Mossel Bay Advertiser that their anger stemmed from the fact that very little help was forthcoming when the injured boys sought refuge in the school.
"The boys sat bleeding in the reception area. The school did not call the parents. The principal did not attend to the learners," one of the victim's aunt told the Advertiser. She said the brother of one of the victims alerted the parents to the incident and private taxis were then arranged to ferry the injured learners to hospital.
The spokesperson for Western Cape Health, Nadia Ferreira, confirmed on Wednesday that both minor learners were receiving treatment for knife wounds at the Mossel Bay Provincial Hospital.
Wednesday morning's meeting followed a demand by a number of parents from JCC on Tuesday evening to meet with the school principal.
Scores of parents on Tuesday evening, 9 April visited the Da Gamaskop Police Station to voice their demand.
From the Da Gamaskop Police Station, both the school principal, Mr Nqoba, and the KwaNonqaba police station commissioner, Col Madongana, were called to arrange for a meeting at school on Wednesday morning.
It was agreed with principal Nqoba that a meeting with parents would take place and that a loud hailer would be used to inform the parents of the planned meeting.
However, when the parents arrived at the school on Wednesday morning, the principal was at first not available or prepared to meet with them, they say.
KwaNonqaba police spokesperson Sgt Kapp confirmed to the Mossel Bay Advertiser that the parents, principal Nqoba and deputy principal January eventually concluded their meeting on Wednesday in the school hall.
It was decided that a follow-up meeting would be scheduled where representatives of the relevant departments would be present.
The parents will also form a committee to support the efforts already in place to keep learners safe when at school.
At the time of going to press Western Cape Education Department did not respond to questions.
Some of the mothers who voiced their concern about their children's safety.
Western Cape Education Department responds to news of stabbing incident:
A grade 8 and a grade 9 learner from Indwe Secondary School were reportedly attacked and stabbed allegedly by community members just outside the school on Tuesday, 9 April in what appears to be a gang related incident.
Spokesperson Jessica Shelver said first aid was applied at the school and the learners were taken to hospital. The learners are reportedly in a stable condition. She added that the incident did not take place on school premises.
A big group of concerned parents arrived at the school on Wednesday morning, 10 April. They demanded the dismissal of the learners and an immediate meeting with the teachers. Shelver said the principal refused to let the parents disrupt the school or teaching time. The principal managed to calm them down and met with the parents in the school hall. He answered their questions about the safety of their children and listened to their concerns. The meeting adjourned peacefully and the parents returned to their daily routine.
"The principal reported that many of the parents offered their support and assistance to the school and teachers. Parents want to become involved in the safety measures of the school to protect the learners during school hours against such violent incidents.
"The School psychologist and social worker from the Western Cape Education Department District office were present at the school during the parents’ visit to render focused assistance and support to learners, parents and staff, as needed. These two specialists are always available to support learners and their parents on request from schools.
Shelver added that the school premises is currently properly fenced with access control at the main gate and entrance. "Teachers are on playground duty to keep an eye on the learners during breaks," she said in a statement.
The principal of Indwe Secondary School in KwaNonqaba, Mr Nqoba, with Councillor Buda and deputy principal January. They addressed about 60 angry parents who visited the school on Tuesday morning to complain about what they perceive to be a lack of safety measures at the school.
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