Teacher suspended for video of pupil left out of pie fundraiser
A primary school teacher in the Western Cape has been suspended after a pupil was allegedly ridiculed for not bringing money to buy a pie.
The incident occurred at Thembalethu Primary School in George.
It's alleged that the teacher recorded a video of a grade 1 pupil, who was reportedly singled out during a school fundraising activity because he did not have the money needed to purchase a pie and shared it in the parents' WhatsApp group.
In the video, which has since gone viral, the teacher can be heard saying that the pupil’s mother had not contributed. In the footage, the boy appears with his head bowed and his face covered while his classmates eat their pies around him.
The video sparked anger in the community, with nearly 800 residents marching to the school on Wednesday, where they demanded that the teacher be expelled.
South African Democratic Teachers’ Union spokesperson Nomusa Cembi said the apparent humiliation of a learner is completely unacceptable and does not represent the values of the teaching profession.
"Teachers are expected to uphold the rights of learners to privacy and confidentiality; avoid any humiliation, and refrain from any form of abuse - physical and psychological," said Cembi.
She added that, ironically, the regional office of SADTU in George had recently partnered with SACE to host workshops on professional conduct for teachers. The sessions were open to all educators, regardless of union affiliation, and were aimed at strengthening professionalism and ethical behaviour in the sector.
The Western Cape Department of Education said it is investigating the matter following public outrage on social media.
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