SADTU STATEMENT ON THE SETTING ALIGHT OF CLASSROOMS AT LANCEA VALE SECONDARY SCHOOL IN ELDORADO PARK
21 August 2024
SADTU calls on the police to find the culprits behind the setting alight of classrooms at Lance Vale Secondary School in Eldorado Park
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) strongly condemns the setting alight of three classrooms at Lancea Vale Secondary School in Eldorado Park yesterday, a day after the commencement of preliminary examinations for Grade 12.
Lancea Vale Secondary School was in the spotlight last week following a stabbing incident between two learners. After the episode, some parents came to the school and held teachers hostage demanding the school to hand over the learner who had allegedly stabbed the other.
We are very much disturbed by these incidents which seem to continue unabated despite increased police presence in the area. Violence in schools has a negative effect on learning and teaching. We call on the police to treat this matter as a priority and find the perpetrators. We believe these incidents will continue to escalate if no one is brought to book.
In line with the Union’s “I Am a School Fan” campaign, we urge the community of Eldorado Park, including the learners to work with the police in finding these troublemakers. We further call on them to give teachers and school staff their outmost support as they do their best to bring normality under these trying circumstances.
We reiterate our call to the Department of Education in Gauteng to provide effective security measures and psychosocial services to the teachers and learners so that they build resilience to perform under such unfavourable conditions
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat