MEC Donald Grant concerned about latecomers at school

By Khanyisa Tabata
10 May 2011

Western Cape Education Minister Donald Grant says he has taken into account the late coming and loitering by learners of Vista High School after he received the information from a member of the public.

Grant says this kind of behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. He says learners need to be at school.

“This morning I went to Vista High School to investigate the public’s complaint and I met the principal of the school, who explained to me that late coming was a concern.

“Each morning, the names of the late learners are recorded and each of them then has to report for a 40 minute detention after school that day,” said Grant.

Grant says last term; over 100 learners were late on any given day, with some learners arriving over one hour after the first school bell.

“Therefore, not only have the numbers of late learners decreased, the amount of teaching and learning time lost has also declined.

“It is evident that many of the learners are making an extra effort to be at school on time in order to avoid attending detention,” said Grant.