Kathrada Foundation commends learners for standing up
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has welcomed the intervention by the Gauteng Department of Education at Pretoria High School for Girls.
In a statement the foundation commended pupils for standing up against the school's code of conduct and its implementation, which African learners have indicated, discriminates racially against them.
"We are pleased that MEC Panyaza Lesufi has intervened, and that the school's code of conduct will be reviewed, along with that of other schools in the province as well," director of the Foundation, Neeshan Balton, said.
The foundation also welcomed the investigation into the allegations of racism, as well as the planned visit by the province's Group of Eminent Persons dealing with issues of social cohesion.
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Balton added that Anti-Racism Network South Africa proposed a draft anti-racism school policy that could be implemented nationally to tackle racism in primary and secondary schools.
"We hope that the Department of Basic Education will seriously consider adopting the policy in all schools. It's about time that racism in the education sector is tackled head on," he said in the statement.
The Foundation visited the school yesterday and spoke to former and current pupils and several relatives waiting outside the gates, as university students picketed.
- Press Release