Respect your teachers, urges MEC Chiloane

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has urged pupils at Primrose Primary School in Germiston to respect their teachers. This follows an incident where a Grade 6 boy learner allegedly shot the school principal. The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday and the principal is still recovering from the gunshot wound in hospital. Addressing the school's learners on Monday, Chiloane urged learners to always respect the teaching staff and the school's management. He said occurrences of such nature should not take place, especially in the school environment, where it is supposed to be safe, and children should not feel scared. '…That child did something that shocked all of us. It's unfortunate what is going to happen because once you do something like this, your future is also compromised. 'The learner has been arrested… You must respect your school principal all the time. You must listen to them because your teachers are your parents in school. 'Once you don't respect your teachers, it means you do not res pect at home,' he said. Chiloane said the school leadership has assured him that since the incident occurred, they 'have been on top of things'. The children are receiving counselling and support, including the teachers, who are all shaken by the incident. 'As it stands, the child is appearing in court today and the father has been apprehended as well for negligence,' the MEC said. Source: South African Government News Agency