A group of Grade 12 learners at West Ridge High School were robbed of their valuables on Tuesday, 21 May, while they were writing English Paper 2 during their mid-year exams.
A traumatised learner from the school, who lost her cellphone, said when they entered the gym room, which is where they were writing, they were searched for notes and phones, and told to leave their bags there and move to the room designated for writing the exam.
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https://roodepoortrecord.co.za/2019/01/09/one-arrested-for-robbing-school-children/
“The exam started at 12.30pm and after an hour, we heard some movement outside but we thought it was just other learners who had finished writing their exams,” the learner said.
“We finished writing at about 3pm. When we went to fetch our bags, we realised that they had been moved. Some of my peers’ books were thrown on the floor and bags had been stolen. We then started searching our things, and some people noticed that their money and cellphones had been stolen,” she added.
According to the learner, they reported the matter to the principal, who said the matter would be looked into. She said no help was offered by the teachers, who said they could not account for the theft.
“We went to school on Wednesday, 22 May, as usual, but we were not addressed or given an update on the matter. The principal was nowhere to be seen – it was just business as usual,” she said.
The school is said to be accessible to outsiders who play soccer on the school’s field.
One of the victims’ parents said this was a traumatic experience for the matriculants during exam season. It has affected their child because she feels she is no longer free to go to school as she used to, even on days when she is not writing an exam.
The angry parent was concerned by the fact that the school did not even assist the children who had lost their transport money with means to get home.
“The school did not even try to assist anyone after the incident. Surely someone must take responsibility for the breach in security. This happened in broad daylight, with both security staff and other educators at the school. This has brought the question of the safety of our kids while in the care of the school into question,” concluded the parent.
A case was allegedly opened at the Roodepoort Police Station. The Record is still awaiting confirmation of this from the police, and once information is received, an update will be provided.
The Record was also unable to get any comment from the school principal, despite numerous attempts to contact him.
