Students from Hillcrest High School raised concerns about racism, bullying, shaming anKwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Mbali Frazer. Images: X/@DBE_KZN and @kzngov.
Hillcrest High School: Education MEC visits amid racism allegations
Students from Hillcrest High School have raised concerns about issues regarding racism, bullying and body shaming.
Students from Hillcrest High School raised concerns about racism, bullying, shaming anKwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Mbali Frazer. Images: X/@DBE_KZN and @kzngov.
Accusations of racism at Hillcrest High School prompted a visit by MEC for KwaZulu-Natal Education Mbali Frazer to visit the institution.
Parents raised their concerns about alleged racism at the school
Parents of some students at the Durban school have raised concerns about racism. On Thursday, 18 August, a number of students wanted to make submissions during a meeting between Education Department officials and stakeholders.
The students reportedly informed the officials that they were subjected to racism and body shaming. A few parents joined in on the meeting in hopes that their children would soon be back in their classrooms.
EWN reported on a parent of a Grade 11 student who spoke about how her daughter faced bullying at Hillcrest High School.
“She has also personally been bullied and the way the case was dealt with I was not happy about that. And I feel like the school is ready to pull out the code of conduct where certain students are concerned, and then hide it when certain students are concerned,”
said the parent.
Frazer was informed about alleged bullying, sexism and body shaming
A report by IOL revealed that Frazer’s meeting at the school was prompted by a leaked WhatsApp group chat of five boys. The boys allegedly used derogatory language in their group chat last year and have since been suspended.
However, other students were not happy with the way this incident was handled. They informed Frazer that Hillcrest High School had issues of racism, bullying, sexism and body shaming.
Heathfield High: WCED condemns clashes, school to stay closed
In other school-related news, it was previously reported that the Western Cape Education Department responded to the incident at Heathfield High School on Tuesday, 16 August. Some students from the school in the Cape Peninsula clashed with law enforcement officers and videos of the matter went viral online.
Law enforcement officers made their way to the high school to search for contraband when they were allegedly attacked by learners. It was confirmed on Tuesday that the school was forced to close early.
A circular sent to parents stated that students are to be kept at home and school will resume on Thursday, 18 August. Students and parents were informed about the law enforcement officers a day before the searches were conducted. Read the full story here.
