Cape Town - Some parents of pupils at Westridge High School have voiced their concern about the publishing of the June matric results in a booklet that has been publicly distributed.
One parent suggested that the booklet was aimed at naming and shaming matric pupils who had failed the June exams.
The Cape Argus is in possession of a booklet displaying the names of 31 pupils who failed, six pupils who passed with a bachelors, 14 who received diploma, and eight who had progressed with a higher certificate.
This booklet was distributed to parents in an apparent bid to motivated and improve struggling pupils.
Jessica Shelver, spokeswoman for Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, said the list formed part of a booklet that had been handed to parents at a meeting that was aimed at “motivating” parents and pupils, especially “those who are struggling”.
“The focus was not on naming and shaming, but more how parents could work with the school to help children. The principal, the staff and the school psychologist have been working closely with pupils to motivate them throughout the year,” she said.
She added that the booklet contained information designed to “encourage pupils to study” and invited parents to “discuss issues with subject teachers”.
“More than 50 percent of the parents of the pupils who failed have been to see the subject teachers since Monday. Naming and shaming is definitely not an appropriate approach to helping struggling pupils,” Shelver said.
She told the Cape Argus that the department’s circuit team had discussed the matter with the school’s principal and would “look again at the particular issue”.
It also confirmed that a complaint had been lodged with the department.
Shelver said: “The principal said that no other complaints had been received. However, we think the school community itself should talk through the issue and come to an agreement.”
Cindy Maree, a concerned Mitchells Plain resident who had contacted the Cape Argus, said the school asked “a fraction of parents to make appointments with subject teachers to discuss the fate of their children’s academics”.
“The school clearly asked pupils who passed but needed assistance to make appointments with subject teachers and so many of the ‘failures’ were ignored.”
Last year, the Council of Education Ministries announced that newspapers would only reflect the ID numbers and examination numbers of students when printing results.
Maree said: “Who gave the principal, governing body or teachers the authority to publish the names of pupils who passed, those who failed and the number of subjects failed per pupil?
“Professional assistance - such as psychology specialists - are being sought in many cases for those who fail matric under normal circumstances, and yet there are tragic consequences. What assistance can be offered to still struggling, previously disadvantaged parents to remedy this situation?” she asked.
Cape Argus