Outrage as teacher mocks Grade 1 learner for not affording a pie
The Western Cape education department is investigating an incident at a George primary school
Image: Supplied
A teacher from George has been suspended following the release of a video that captured her mocking a Grade 1 pupil for not having money to buy a pie, while his classmates enjoyed their pies around him.
Western Cape education department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond, who called the incident “totally inappropriate”, said the Thembalethu Primary School teacher would remain suspended until a formal probe had been done.
The teacher, in the viral clip, can be heard speaking to pupils as they eat at their desks in class.
The pies had been bought at the school’s “pie day” fundraising event.
One child, who reportedly had nothing to eat because his mother could not afford to contribute to the fundraiser, can be seen covering his face while the recording continues.
The teacher can then be heard mocking the boy and instructing his classmates not to share their pies with him.
Hammond said the video was recorded by the class teacher and shared with the class’s parent group.
"[That was done] purportedly to highlight that the learner was the only learner excluded from receiving goods purchased through a fundraising initiative," said.
Hammond said that only after the video was filmed, the teacher allegedly bought the child a pie.
“It has since been established that the teacher had in fact purchased the fundraising item for the pupil, who received it after the filming of the video,” Hammond said.
“The manner in which this was done, however, was totally inappropriate.”
She said the teacher was not at school.
"The [department] has taken the decision to temporarily suspend the teacher, pending a formal investigation by the Labour Relations Directorate," she said.
"There has been no previous disciplinary transgressions in the past by the teacher.
"The learner and the learner’s parents have been offered counselling support arranged by the department."
The suspension comes after education district officials were sent to the school to speak with community members, including angry parents who protested outside the school on Wednesday.
They were calling for action to be taken against the teacher.
"There was a protest outside the school today," Bronagh said.
"[Department] officials engaged directly with protesters, and teaching and learning continued throughout the day."
She added: "The [department] remains committed to ensuring that all learners are treated with dignity and care, and that appropriate professional conduct is upheld at all times.
"A thorough investigation is now under way."
Meanwhile, social media users opened their hearts and wallets after influencer Mandisi Tshingana asked them to donate money into his bank account for the learner.
By the time of publication, more than R40 000 had been raised.