Concerned parents are requesting that the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) prioritises cases of gender-based violence, bullying and the placement of children with disabilities in Western Cape schools.
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These issues were addressed following the department’s briefing to the Standing Committee on Education regarding the preparation for the 2023 academic year.
IOL reported that a distraught mother is seeking help from the WCED and the police after her daughter, who attended Norman Henshilwood High School last year, was sexually assaulted by a student in a higher grade at a school function.
The school called a meeting with the alleged perpetrating student and his parents, but no formal disciplinary hearing was held after the incident was reported.
“I picked her up, she was very disoriented but I didn’t know what was wrong with her. The next week she spoke to the counsellor at the school and she brought the matter forward. They did not fill in a form 22, they did no disciplinary, and they never really contacted me after that,” said the mother.
She believes her daughter was drugged on the night in question, as she’s struggling to remember parts of the evening.
“Apparently he was drunk and he couldn’t keep himself up, so he put his arm around her and she did not like it, and he told her that he wanted to rape her.”
“She has been having panic attacks and anxiety attacks. I have seen her bedridden, I have seen her almost on her last, and because of that she missed a lot of school,” the mother told IOL.
Her daughter is now receiving weekly counselling sessions.
The alleged perpetrating student still attends the school. When the mother requested that her daughter return to school, she was told that there wasn’t any space available.
According to the girl’s mother, “It’s not the first time he’s done this. There’s other girls he has done it to as well, and the school is well known for covering things up. They didn’t want to view any footage at all. His mother is on the PTA, so I need assistance urgently. I’ve been crying out for help for a very long time but I’m not being heard.”
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Picture: Norman Henshilwood High School