Cape Town - Holy Cross High School has admitted that for 11 years pupils have been fined for not speaking English and are blaming pupils for initiating the practice.
Earlier this week numerous pupils told the Cape Times they are fined R10 for not speaking English.
The girls say if they do not pay the fine, they are sent to detention the same day. The fine has doubled from R5 last year.
Holy Cross in Maitland, which initially refuted the claims, has now admitted the fine and said it will be reviewed.
“The practice of fining for not speaking English was initiated by student leaders approximately 11 years ago as a means of supporting the Language of Teaching and Learning (LoLT) at the school. This practice is not written into our Learner Code of Conduct or any policy at the school,” the school said.
The school says oral communication in English within the classroom “fosters a common language base in a multilingual classroom”.
“In English language classes and content subject classes, the aim of the practice was to encourage learners in their interactive engagement to use the LoLT. The practice was to facilitate teaching and learning. The practice is also implemented in the Xhosa and Afrikaans subject classes where learners persist in using a language other than Xhosa and Afrikaans respectively.”
The school said it has not received complaints about the fine. “Now that there is an indication of dissatisfaction, albeit via the media and not directly, we will place it under review.
“The school will do so and a meeting will be called for parents in order to get their input. The learners will also meet to review the situation, especially since it was an initiative of theirs to impose fines.”
A pupil, who asked not to be named, said since the practice emerged in public, the school had not addressed the student body about scrapping the fine.
“Having to pay R10 every time you say a word in your language is a lot. We can’t even afford to pay these fines every time,” she said.
“It is good that they are reviewing it. I’m sure there are other better ways to help us speak English,” she said.
Holy Cross sisters in Johannesburg, who are the owners of the school, said they could not comment on Wednesday and the matter is “an issue of the school”.
Cape Town Archbishop Stephen Brislin has also been approached for comment, but did not respond by deadline.
Sans Souci Girls’ High came under fire from pupils and parents for its discriminatory code of conduct, and a letter has been sent to parents to “clarity definite changes” to the code of conduct.
The changes include the scrapping of the pupil’s yellow books, which some have called a dompas - the hated permit from the apartheid regime without which blacks were not allowed to enter white areas. Braids are now permitted.
The amended code says English is the medium of instruction and interaction in the classroom - unless in the Afrikaans class.
“For further clarity of subject matter at hand, pupils may explain in any language of their choice with permission from the teacher. Outside of teaching situations, we believe that inclusivity and respect should be the guidelines when speaking in groups and that pupils be able to speak in the language of their choice,” the school added.
Further changes to the code of conduct are currently under discussion, it reads. The changes, however, have been criticised and labelled vague by parents. Parent Alice Mbonga said she has refused to sign the amended code of conduct.
“I don’t want to get my child into the same situation she was in before. They say poor behaviour will carry consequences, that is so vague. I cannot sign my child up for victimisation again. We must go through this with a fine-tooth comb and they need to hear our sentiments on this.”
It seemed external and internal pressures had forced the school to quickly put together a new code of conduct, Mbonga said. Jessica Shelver, spokesperson for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, said the department was pleased the school was making progress in drafting a new code.
Cape Times