'Culture of bullying' at Milnerton High

THE Chairpersons of Parliament's Social Services Cluster oversight committees stated that they discovered a culture of bullying at Milnerton High School, following their oversight visit to the school last week.

- THEOLIN TEMBO

The visit follows the assault of a 16-year-old grade 10 pupil by several other boys, in a video that subsequently went viral.

During the media briefing yesterday, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education, Joy Maimela, said bullying undermines the safety, dignity, and mental health of many learners.

"Education cannot thrive in an environment of fear, and a learner who feels unsafe cannot learn while a teacher who fears discipline cannot teach effectively."

Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences & Creative Industries, Makhi Feni, said that their view is that the incident at the school "is a continuation of racist acts that continue in our schools, especially in those schools that were regarded as Model C schools".