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Two schoolgirls have been expelled from classes at Inanda Seminary in Durban for kissing each other, reports GroundUp. The Grade 9 and 8 pupils have missed school for three weeks.
Inanda Seminary is a private girls' boarding school in Inanda.
The mother of one of the teenagers said she was called by the matron on July 25 and told to fetch her child, who had been expelled.
"I went the next day to find her isolated from other [pupils]… When I asked what had happened, I was told she was caught by the matron kissing the other girl for 20 minutes."
"I took her home and we came back to the school for the hearing. As a parent, I was not given a chance to speak. They asked [my daughter] if she pleaded guilty or not. She pleaded not guilty. She said she had witnesses. I had also asked her and she said they did not kiss," said the mother.
No further appeal
The school said one of the mothers had appealed against the sanction but "the verdict and sanction were upheld in the appeal" and "the mother was informed that no further appeal will be permitted".
The grandmother of one of the girls said the school had refused to speak to her after the appeal on Friday.
"I did ask [my grandchild] if she was involved in the kissing. She said she was not. I was told she cannot return to school," said the grandmother.
"I was told to speak to the district office. I have not done that. Instead, I have looked for another school. I have not found another school. I am not happy about all of this," she added.
One of the mothers said she also tried to speak to the Department of Education. She said Education MEC Mthandeni Dlungwane had advised parents to take their children to public schools instead of independent schools.
Spokesperson for the Department of Education Sicelo Khuzwayo said the matter would be investigated.
Due process
Inanda Seminary executive director Judy Tate confirmed that both pupils had been expelled. She said the school had followed due process.
"An internal disciplinary hearing was held in accordance with the provincial regulations," she said.
Asked whether the school had engaged with parents, she said: "We have offered assistance as we always do with expulsion to get the child into another school. We have requested one of the mothers to send her banking details in order for us to refund the amount due to her. The mother has not responded."
The school would not discuss the kissing, but would only say that the pupils were expelled for "misconduct".
Tate said: "We are not permitted to engage further regarding the disciplinary outcome as this could now be a legal matter."
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