Education earned the hard way

Children will be children...until they set fire to a school.

- KYLE ZEEMAN

The Riverlea community was recently rocked by alleged arson at a high school in the area, destroying 11 classrooms and a bathroom block. The fire broke out just days before the school was to welcome pupils back for their second term.

As mobile classrooms were delivered to the school this week, three 11-year-old boys came forward and were questioned over the fire. While police and the Gauteng department of education could not confirm whether the boys admitted to setting the school on fire, it has thrown the state of oversight and discipline back into the spotlight.

Questions need to be asked about security and infrastructure at a school that allows any arsonists access to the premises.