Durban principals have taken a tough stance with tardy pupils by locking school gates and turning them away – with the full support of KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Senzo Mchunu.
But the safety of these pupils, turned away from institutions of learning and left free to roam the streets unsupervised, is being questioned.
Muntu Lukhozi, media liaison officer in the office of the provincial MEC for Education, said the MEC was on record as saying pupils who came late must be sent home.
She said the department had been forced to take drastic steps to tackle latecomers.
“The MEC instructs principals in meetings that they must lock the gate when the school bell rings, locking out any latecomers, taking their names before they are sent home.
“The second time the child is late they must be sent home again. If it happens for the third time the child’s parents must be called in to address it.
“If pupils were serious about learning they would be at school on time.”
She said schools in townships and rural areas did not experience these problems.
“We were recently at a school in Umlazi that starts at 6.30am. When the bell rang, kids a short distance away started running to the gate, to not be late. By 7am everyone was in class learning. It was an amazing thing to see.
“In other schools, when the bell rings, the pupils take a leisurely stroll without any sense of urgency. We have received calls from parents complaining about their children being locked out, but we won’t budge on this.”
However, pupils and parents are upset about the new policy.
Nolwazi, a Grade 9 pupil at Durban Girls’ Secondary, in Greyville, was standing outside the gate of the school at 8.30am one day last week. She had arrived at 8.05am, even though school starts at 7.40am, but said her transport from Inanda had arrived late.
“I leave at 6am to get to school. It would be dangerous to leave earlier. I am late two or three times a week and sometimes we sit outside the school the whole day, hoping that they will open the gate.
“I miss out on a lot of work, because you don’t get worksheets for that day, and aren’t allowed to rewrite tests.”
It was also a waste of her bus fare of R25, she said.
Lindokuhle, 15, also locked out, said her schoolwork had suffered since the school enforced the policy last year.
“I try to be on time for school. My parents are angry when I return home early. I travel from Chesterville every day and busfare is R14. It’s not safe letting us stand outside the gate. Taxi drivers offer us lifts and alcohol,” she said.
A mother from Ridge Park College, in Overport, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said her daughter had been locked out.
“I dropped her off at school on Monday at 7.43am. She was three minutes late for school and they refused to let her in.
“I went to speak to the principal, who said she was enforcing what the Education MEC said about latecomers,” she said. “There were about 12 children, only a few minutes late, who were turned away. They missed out on an entire day of school. Surely that is a violation of their right to learn?
“I think it is unacceptable. There must be an alternative. Preventing them from learning is not the solution.”
Contacted this week, both schools said while they were locking out latecomers, they were reviewing this policy.
Koobeshan Naidoo, spokesman for Ridge Park College, said they had tried the lock-out policy, but had reverted to detention every afternoon.
“We took down the girls’ details, contacted their parents and sent them home. It worked for a while, but we couldn’t live with these girls being vulnerable out on the streets.
“Pupils were using it as an excuse to bunk school, saying ‘I’m late, so I will be locked out anyway, so I’ll bunk’.
“Parents are the worst offenders, dropping their kids off late. The girls who travel far with public transport are usually on time,” he said.
Dr L Bhagowat, principal of Durban Girls’ Secondary, said they had started locking the gate on late pupils last year, but it had not worked.
“We have hired a school counsellor, who will counsel latecomers and submit a report to me. I will take steps based on the report.
“Most of my pupils travel long distances, but if more than 1 000 pupils can be on time, why can’t the other 20 or 30 who come late every day?”
Sayed Rajack, of the Parents Association, agreed with the tough stance. He said children needed to be taught the culture of being punctual.
“I have seen children wait for a specific bus or taxi with the latest music pumping, letting other buses and taxis pass them. There is no urgency to be on time for school.
“They may get up to mischief if they are locked out of school, but those are the pupils who already have the intention of getting involved with alcohol, drugs and sexual activity.”
Spokesman for the SA Principals Association in Durban South, Sundran Subramoney, said pupils and parents were apathetic about punctuality.
“Turning pupils away in masses is not the solution… the responsibility ultimately rests with the parents.”
Other principals told the Tribune that for safety reasons, they would not lock out pupils.
Anne Martin, principal of Durban Girls’ High School, said they monitored latecomers. “Locking them out is tricky. I wouldn’t like to be responsible if something happens to them.”
Vanesh Gokal, principal of Burnwood Secondary, said he would never lock his pupils out, as they could be robbed or knocked down by passing cars.
“They come to school to learn and locking them out is harsh. We have a safe zone at my school where the latecomers sit until the daily assembly is over. How often they are late is also reflected on their report every term. Keeping them safe is more important than them being late,” he said.
Spokesman for the national department of education Panyaza Lesufi said school governing policies differed according to provinces. “The national department sets policy such as school hours being a minimum of eight hours. But when the school day starts and ends and how they control latecomers differs according to school heads and governing bodies.”