[LISTEN] GDE: Eldorado Park teachers underwent counselling to be able to educate
Community activists and parents protested at the Eldorado Park Secondary School on Monday against the return of seven black teachers.
The return of seven permanently employed teachers, following alleged racial discrimination, has sparked tensions at one of the prestige schools in the south of Johannesburg.
The Gauteng Department of Education was forced to employ temporary teachers after the seven were barred by community members last year.
“Let them give those educators an opportunity to come back and teach,” pleads spokesperson, Steve Mabona.
He says intensive consultations were had with stakeholders, while teacher unions and the South African Human Rights Commission also attempted to help defuse the situation.
“Those teachers were traumatised, dehumanised, they were harassed, they were threatened.
“They went through counselling just to prepare them make sure they are ready to go back to that school,” says Mabona.
Community members are calling for the return of the temporary teachers, citing Eldorado Park Secondary School 85.4% pass rate obtained in the matric exams.
“The SGB (school governing body) must work with us to make sure they are welcome in the space,” Mabona says.