Pretoria - An investigation has been launched by the Gauteng Department of Education into an incident in which parents are believed to have locked teachers out of a school in the north of Johannesburg.
Learning and teaching could not start on the first day of school at Alexandra High as a group of parents, who were complaining about the awarding of a school maintenance contract, among other issues, locked out teachers at the school.
The gates were only opened after the police were called in and learning and teaching were allowed to commence.
Department spokesperson Charles Phahlane said the department viewed the incident in a serious light.
"Parents who want to further their own business interests cannot be allowed to deny learners the right to education. The head of the department is investigating this matter, with a view to instituting appropriate action against these parents for disrupting schooling.
"Schooling will proceed normally on Thursday and this group of parents has agreed to a meeting towards the end of next week," Phahlane said.
He also disputed a claim that the school principal arrived at the school after 10am.
"The person who arrived after 10am was the former administrator of the school, who was sent by the district to address the situation at the school. The acting principal was already at the school and was part of the group that was locked out."
The department has also sent a stern warning to a group of learners at Fochville in Gauteng, who burned down two classrooms while teachers were in a meeting with another group, regarding concerns related to the marking of their scripts.
"We are still gathering further information in this regard. Police have been called in and are investigating," said Phahlane, adding that the department condemned such behaviour. "Learners involved will face the consequences of their action."
