Lesufi must intervene in Allanridge High School to avoid further delays to learning
Allanridge High School was once again forcibly shut down today as parents protested over the lack of action by the Gauteng Department of Education against the excessive bullying of learners and drug dealing taking place on the school premises.
Parents from the Rabie Ridge Rate Payers Association (RRRA) have called for incompetent teachers and learners known to be troublemakers and drug dealers to be removed with immediate effect.
Until such time as this is done, they say, Allanridge High School will remain closed – or face disruptions.
In addition, they are calling on the school to address the severe assault of a learner that occurred last week – resulting in this young boy being left almost blinded.
The parents were also angered by the lack of support for the school’s Principal and the School Governing Body (SGB) when they appealed to the MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi, for assistance in dealing with the sale of drugs that is said to be on-going in the school’s grounds.
Other parents at the school are in support of addressing the drugs issue knowing the impact it has, but are against this being done at the expense of their children’s education.
Allanridge High School currently has 2 516 learners who are impacted by the actions of this shutdown. This is not the first time that learning has been disrupted at the school. Just a few weeks ago, a similar protest occurred and nothing has been done to resolve this.
Parents informed us that the Principal and SGB asked the MEC for Education for assistance to address the aggressive bullies holding learners and teachers hostage, but no interventions have been offered.
The DA will through its Member in the Legislature, Khumo Ramulifho, request MEC Lesufi to visit the school and assess the situation before it escalates further.
Learners deserve to be taught in a conducive learning environment, and teachers need to perform their duties without fear. MEC Lesufi and his department need to act to ensure that this is done so learning can commence.
Media Enquiries
Madeleine Hicklin, MP
DA Constituency Head: Midrand
082 744 5155
Idah Satikhe
DA Gauteng Senior Media Officer
079 700 5382
