Pupils report drug use, sexual harassment and no extra curricular as morale at Wordsworth High School.
From the outside, the visual inspiration is inspiring-Putas dressed in fabulous looking uniforms, picturesque, manicure against the backdrop of green lawns and gardens.
But once the level of dysfunction within a prestigious institution makes a shocking contrast at Wordsworth High School in Benoni.
It is at least if less than the principal, regularly dagga smoking, in a hurry of students, misconduct and unattainable cases of sexual harassment.
Once a top school, Wordsworth High now faces chaos
The subjects are going for months without teachers and exiting the school for not wearing tie is one of the problems faced by students in Wordsworth.
In recent years, with a proud history of producing a 100% matric pass rate-and being an Alma Mater for many business and art trailblazers, including the world famous singer Lira-is expected to scrape only with a 40% pass rate this year.
According to teachers and students speaking on the condition of anonymity, the school has such a deep crisis, that “a radical leadership change is the only option to change the status quo”.
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Principal Anna Semet did not answer questions challenging his leadership ability – only this year rapidly “100% matric pass rate, because we have prepared a lot”.
Vigilant about Wordsworth’s situation, Gauteng Education Department has promised to investigate, without commenting on the crisis faced by the school.
A teacher said, “Ever since the Semet took over and the morale of the teachers has gone down,” the standards have declined. ,
Children’s futures were destroyed due to lack of leadership
“People come in, what they can do and leave. The future of children has been destroyed due to lack of leadership of Pradhan.
“If you look at the way you behave in grade 8, there is nothing that can be called ‘Wordsworthian’.
“I don’t know what we are raising as a nation because grade 8s are just something else, due to an environment they find themselves inside.”
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Among other challenges, teachers employed by the school governing body are “never paid on time”.
“Unlike all other state-employed teachers, they do not have an annual growth, coming into peanuts with their 13th check. It’s just a pity that they have nowhere and you can imagine how they feel.”
A grade 9 pupil said that she would not recommend any parents to bring any child to this school “.
SGB-employed teachers never paid on time ‘
“They should just change the principal who does not know where he stands on issues affecting the school,” he said.
With the school suspending daily lockouts and arbitrarily suspending students up to five days, students say they have missed “at the work of important class”.
A disciple said, “This year, we were closed outside the school gates and my mother told the matter to the Education Department.”
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“We were out of school on Tuesday, and three times in the last term because we wore a winter uniform due to cold weather.”
“Winter uniforms are formed in trousers, a jersey, blazer and a tie. Every morning you see about 50 children standing outside the school premises, due to not having a tie or blazer.
“The leadership of the school forgets that some parents are unemployed; some are single parents.
School is not considering the financial conditions of parents
“They do not consider the financial conditions of other people.” Suspension of the week is also common.
“To find a solution instead of your parents, you are not in school for the whole week,” said another pupil.
Bulk and sexual harassment by classmates are also prevalent.
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A disciple said, “Last year, I reported a case of bullying by a classmate and in February, without doing anything.”
“When I told about the bullying, the teacher did not take it seriously and my mother told the matter to the education department.
“The teacher was given a written warning by the department, later threatened me that the school would not be in that dirt, if it was not for my reporting.”
Pupils Banking Class and Smoking Dagga
Pupils said disappointment with school management left some “bunking class and smoking dagga”.
“We don’t all come from the same background,” a disciple said.
“Some children come from broken families – what is happening at home is due to this. It is due to this. Sending an effigy back home to experience similar problems can only work on compound issues.
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“There are no doctors to talk in school and you are just suspended.”
There is no sports activity in school.
“The school has abolished the games-it has become easy for the students to join the practices related to smoking and other drugs,” a disciple said.
No game
“When we promise the game tournament, the principal does not pay for transport.
“Nothing is right in school.
“Since (Principal) arrives here, the pass rate is decreasing. He lacks leadership skills.”