Free State Education condemns altercation between teacher and student
The Free State Education Department has condemned any form of violence in classrooms following an altercation between a teacher and a Grade 8 learner at HTS Welkom on Monday. A video clip showing a teacher and a learner scrambling over a mobile phone in a classroom has gone viral. The two are seen scrambling for a phone after the teacher allegedly asked the learner to switch it off in class. The department has launched an investigation. The mother of the Grade 8 learner seen on the video states that her 14-year-old son is traumatised.
Motshidisi Molete says her son came home with a bump on his forehead and wounds on his hands. She received a call stating that there was an incident that happened at the school. According to her son, his phone rang in the classroom and the teacher ordered him to switch it off. She further adds that when the learner was trying to switch it off when the altercation occurred.
“I don’t know what to say, I am feeling depressed, I am traumatised. I don’t know how to comfort my child, because he is just a cool son. I don’t what to say about him. He is just not stubborn, he is a very cool kid. Yesterday, he was asking me mama will I ever forget about this and then I told him yes you will when time goes by.”
The department has emphasised that ill-discipline will not be tolerated as the safety of learners and teachers on the school premises remains its utmost priority. The Free State Education Department has launched an investigation to ascertain the details surrounding the incident.
Free State Education Spokesperson Howard Ndaba says, “This is not the way the learner should be disciplined. There are alternative ways of taking disciplinary against a learner. That is why we are saying this was unbecoming of a teacher and as a result, we will make sure that we investigate whatever happened. In due course we will then report to the public exactly of what is our findings, if there are any wrongdoings we don’t want to pre-empt. The department says once the investigations are concluded they will act accordingly.
Source: eNCA
In other news – Ronwen Williams nominated for the Yashin Trophy at the 2024 Ballon d’Or Awards
Bafana Bafana captain and Mamelodi Sundowns star, Ronwen Williams makes history by being nominated for the prestigious Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards. Williams was the only African in the 10 nominees for Fifa’s for goalkeeper of the year award.
He is the first goalkeeper to be nominated for the club while playing for an African club. He had 35 clean sheets in 59 games in 2023/2024. Read more
