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The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has moved swiftly to ensure that the classes at KwaMfundo High School in Harare are back to normal after learners disrupted classes last week, accusing school management of mismanagement of funds.
Disgruntled learners took to the streets on Wednesday 25 May demanding refunds for money paid towards a school trip to the Artscape in Cape Town.
The learners reportedly paid R100 each towards the trip that was scheduled to take place on the day of the protest. However, it was reportedly cancelled by the school at the 11th hour.
This led to an uproar and prompted learners to down their pens and pack their books away before taking to the streets. Calm was eventually restored and things returned to normal the following day.
Provincial Education Department assistant director for digital media and communication support Unathi Booi said the protest was in connection with a Grade 12 excursion as well as Saturday classes that did not take place last weekend.
“The WCED sent officials to the school and engaged with the learners. The voices of the learners should and must be heard, however, the destruction of school property is unacceptable,” said Booi.
Khayelitsha Education Development Forum secretary Mthetho Haido said they are pleased with the investigation by the department.
“After the incident all the stakeholders had a meeting in an effort to resolve the problem. We agreed that the classes must continue as the department is busy investigating what prompted the protest”.
Efforts to get a comment from the school governing body chair Yanga Mjingwana were unsuccessful. He did not answer his cellphone and WhatsApp messages sent to him.
