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Crawford College teacher given the boot over racial slurs

todayJuly 27, 2023 98

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The Grade 8 substitute teacher at the centre of a racist incident at the Crawford International Pretoria College has been shown the door.

The 82-year-old woman was dismissed and reported to the South African Council for Educators (SACE) after a video recorded by learners of her during an English class went viral.

In the video, the teacher can be seen writing offensive phrases, which are derogatory to black people in the US and South Africa. Learners in the class can be heard gasping as she writes the K and N words.

It is alleged that the incident occurred on Monday.

The Department of Basic Education visited the school yesterday to probe the incident further, with Gauteng education MEC, Matome Chiloane, strongly condemning the teacher’s actions.

In a statement, Chiloane says the educator was teaching provocative language and allegedly told learners that they must not be hurt when the ‘k-word’ is used on them because they were not affected by apartheid.

The MEC says her actions are vehemently unacceptable and have undeniable racist undertones, which will not be tolerated in any aspect of South Africa’s education sector.

Chiloane says if found guilty, the South African Council for Educators should deregistrater the teacher so that she is not allowed to teach South Africa’s future leaders ever again.

He has commended the school for providing counselling to the learners affected by this incident.

Chiloane also believes that the school’s decision to review its recruitment measures to avoid enlisting candidates who may potentially threaten the delivery of quality education and learning is a step in the right direction.

 

 

 

 

Written by: Nokwazi Qumbisa

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