By More Matshediso
Pretoria - Chairwoman for the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Nomalungelo Gina, says sex-pest educators should be eliminated from the system to restore the dignity of the teaching profession.
Gina said there has to be consequences for sexually exploiting under-age pupils.
“This attitude stands against every value we want to instil in society’s fibre as South Africans. It is the worst form of abuse and ought to be dealt with expeditiously,” said Gina.
Parliament on Tuesday said the portfolio committee condemned the “sex for marks” scandal by some educators at South African schools.
This after media reports said that teachers at Brakpan High School in Gauteng sought sexual favours from learners for them to pass.
Parliament said it was revealed that the school was without a School Governing Body (SGB) as it was disbanded in June for maladministration.
Gina said if any of the governance structures at school failed, such a situation exposed schools to all forms of opportunistic tendencies.
“Right now all our efforts should be geared towards ensuring that learners progress. All stakeholders, including civil society and organised labour, should condemn this behaviour. The dignity of the teaching profession should be restored through eliminating sex-pest educators from the system,” said Gina.
Parliament said the committee is calling for the harshest punishment for those found guilty of this.
“The sinister behaviour where educators view learners – as young as they are – as sex objects should be condemned and frowned upon. Educators should exercise the parental role for over eight hours on our children, and not subject them to this kind of emotional torture,” Gina added. - SAnews.gov.za
