[imagesource:htswelkom/facebook]

The Free State Education Department is probing a disturbing video that shows a female teacher and a Grade 8 pupil at Hoër Tegniese Skool Welkom fighting over a cell phone earlier this month.

The incident, which occurred on September 2, has sparked widespread concern after the video surfaced on social media this week.

A media liaison officer for the department, Sibusiso Majola, told TimesLIVE that the investigations would be completed soon, with disciplinary recommendations expected by next week.

“The MEC [Dr Mamiki Julia Maboya] looks at these things on a very serious note. It has implications for the teaching and learning processes, as well as the integrity and the reputation of teaching at the classroom level.”

“This is deeply concerning … and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We take this matter seriously. The safety of everyone on the premises of schools remains our utmost priority,” she said.”

Majola said that the fight started when the teacher ordered the student to switch off their device because it was disturbing the class, but the student reportedly refused.

It’s disturbing to watch, and as social media users rightly pointed out, the whole scene is made even worse by the students cheering on in the background.

Even Mmusi Mamaine weighed in on the controversy.

We have a serious discipline crisis in our schools. No student should ever lay their hands on a teacher. We cannot end up with a country where teachers teach from bullet proof windows. pic.twitter.com/dtlRrEX0TG

— Mmusi Maimane MP (@MmusiMaimane) September 11, 2024

No wonder our teachers are heading East.

[source:timeslive]