MDS SUSPENDS SIX PUPILS OVER MASKS

MBABANE – At least six pupils at Mater Dolorosa High School were sent home for allegedly not complying with COVID-19 regulations. 

The pupils, who are in Form V, are said to have been suspended for four days last week, following that the head teacher found them in a group without wearing masks, an act which is against the school regulations.

According to a teacher, who preferred to comment on condition of anonymity, she noticed that some of her learners were absent from class until they returned four days later.         

“I asked one of them why he was not present in class for the past four days. The response I got was that the head teacher had suspended him with his friends because they failed to comply with the school’s regulations in relation to COVID-19. I was told that the learners were in a group and did not observe social distancing, yet they were also not wearing masks,” the educator said. The teacher also stated that she was not aware of the exact number of implicated pupils, but she was sure of six of them. She disclosed that since they had opened, some of them were quite a handful and defied the school rules. “However, children will always be children. Some of them get up to mischief, but we deal with them the best way we know how,” the teacher said. Meanwhile, one parent said she was worried about the time her child had lost while away from school. 

Critical

“This is a critical year and our children have lost so much time away from school. We have also sacrificed the little money we have to pay school fees so it is really concerning when such happens,” she said. 

The parent said this was not the time to suspend pupils from school. Instead, she suggested that the school should implement some sort of punishment to correct them for their wrong behaviour.

Another parent claimed that her child had told her that he was only in a group discussion with his schoolmates.

“What concerns me the most is that I was not even formally informed why my child was sent home. When I inquired from the child, he said he was in a group with his friends discussing a past paper,” the parent claimed.

When queried if she was aware of the possibility that pupils had breached the regulations, the parent admitted that some learners were known to be mischievous at times. However, she insisted that the school authorities could have engaged them in talks, rather than to send them home.  

When reached for comment, Head teacher John Ngwenya politely requested not to comment on the issue. He was quizzed why the pupils were sent home and that their parents claimed that they were only discussing their academic work. 

He then said he did not send the pupils away as there were procedures for suspension of pupils. Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza said they did not condone such behaviour. She encouraged the pupils to always be on their best behaviour.   

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