Limpopo mother lays criminal charges against teacher, principal for negligence
A Limpopo mother has laid criminal charges against a teacher and principal after her son in Grade R was allegedly locked twice in a classroom until late in the evening and again left in a bus after a school trip where he was later found asleep.
The mother, Jaqueline Malatji, laid the charges at the Polokwane police station on Thursday after she felt that the management at Maswahlene Primary School outside Polokwane had continuously downplayed the incidents.
In February this year, the Grade R learner was left alone unattended in a classroom until much later when he was found terrified by the transport driver and other teachers.
On 31 May this year after a Grade R trip, the leaner did not return home at the expected time and he later found forgotten and asleep on the bus late that night.
Again on 17 July this year, the learner was allegedly locked in the classroom by the teacher when the school closed for the day. He was found terrified around 9pm after a frantic search by his family.
Malatji said her efforts to resolve the matter to ensure the safety of her son at the school was met with cold reception. She said she reported the matter to the police because she felt her child’s best interest was neglected.
“I urge the public, education authorities and legal bodies to take immediate steps to address the systemic issues. No parent should have to fight this hard to ensure their children safety in a place meant for learning and care.
“I was expecting the district director to assure me that the learner is entitled to learning in the classroom. Now, the senior person in the district office tells me to take out my child out of the school. That gave me doubts about my child safety,” Malatji said.
She said she recommended for her son to receive counselling, but a psychologist who attended to the matter displayed an “attitude” and refused to give her full names. The school also ignored her plea for child to be moved to another classroom.
Malatji was assisted by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to lay charges.
The party’s Jacques Smalle said communication was directed earlier directed to Education MEC, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, to investigate the matter, but there was no response.
He said the SA Council for Educators code of professional ethics requires educators to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of learners and not to be indolent in the performance of their duties.
Smalle also said the party believes the department, principal and teacher have failed in protecting the learner.
“We will continue to monitor this issue and make sure that all responsible individuals that were at fault will be held accountable,” Smalle said.
Provincial education spokesperson, Matome Moremi, has promised to comment on the matter after verifying the information.