#SchweizerReneke: Parents, bring your children to school. North West Education MEC Sello Lehari met various stakeholders at the school on Wednesday in an attempt to calm the tense situation.
Learning was expected to resume at the embattled Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke in North West on Thursday following a public outcry over a photo that was published showing black and white children sitting in separate groups in a Grade R classroom.
“Tomorrow everything goes back to normal,” Lehari said. “Parents, bring [your] children to school.” However, parents wanted Lehari and the police to first make sure their children will be safe at the school.
A week ago there were heated protests at the school. Learning came to an abrupt halt last week on Thursday after a menacing stand-off between some black and white community members at the school following the outrage over the photo. Concerned parent Johannes Phuthiyagae said: “My seven-year-old boy is so traumatised after he saw people jumping the fence, he thought the SVK gang was attacking them at school.
Now I am struggling to bring my child back to school”. Brigadier Tshenolo Tlotleng said the police had made arrests and the situation was under control. Another parent wanted reassurance that there would be no intimidation and that the school would not be burned down.
Stephina Semaswe, superintendent general in the department of education, said children and teachers would be offered counselling to deal with the trauma they suffered following incidents that occurred at the school when the photo went viral.
“Do not be surprised when social workers and psychologists make appointments with your child,” she told parents of the affected children. as underway, a small group protested outside the school attempting to push their way in, but security guards thwarted their attempts.
Source: IOL News
