A Mitchells Plain pupil says she’s being bullied by classmates after her mother called out the principal for allegedly forcing pupils with Covid-19 to come to school.
Last week, Beverly Davids, the founder of Chauncey’s Epic Anti-Bullying campaign, says she made enquiries after speaking to her daughter Beyoncé, who is in matric at Mondale High School.
It was alleged that Covid-positive pupils, or those who have infected family members at home, or who have flu symptoms, were told to come to school to write exams.
A teacher at the school, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It’s true that pupils who have a Covid case at home, come to school and write in isolation.
“The isolated child must sit at the back in class.”
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said palie Owen Bridgens denied the allegations.
“The school has confirmed that no learner was forced to come to write the tests,” Hammond says.
“They were allegedly informed that they had the option to write the tests in isolation.
“The district has informed the school that learners cannot be given the option to write tests if they have tested positive.”
Meanwhile, parent Mishka Adams commented on the Daily Voice Facebook page saying: “I’m afraid I had a situation last week as well where the school called me to say my daughter must come to school even though I informed them she had the flu… there have been sick kids who had to sit separate from the others to write tests.”
Beverly says she was the one who spoke out, but the matrics are targeting Beyoncé.
The 18-year-old says: “They say it’s my fault that the principal cancelled the event because of my mother speaking to the media.”
“The principal is being shady with me at school and said in front of my class, ‘let me cancel the Halloween event before someone’s mommy takes me to the newspapers again’.”
A WhatsApp message from a classmate read: “We are all upset with you obviously.
“Your mommy’s article took away our day brah.
“And the article wasn’t even truthful.
“This is our school and we should have its back.”
Beverly says she’s now decided to keep Beyoncé at home and will only send her to school to write her final exam.
She also plans to report the bullying to the WCED.
When the Daily Voice contacted the principal for comment about the latest developments yesterday, the school secretary referred queries to the WCED.
venecia.america@inl.co.za