The headmaster at Marubising Secondary School in Taung has recently appeared in the news for what is societally perceived as discrimination against a lesbian-oriented learner. It was reported in one of the national daily newspapers that “A pupil in Grade 9 was allegedly chased out of the school by the principal for allegedly wearing trousers,” the news report entailed.
The child’s 34-year old father, who cannot be named for fear of reprisals against her daughter told the daily publication that he feels that his daughter was discriminated against because of her sexual orientation. “My daughter grew up wearing boys’ clothes but the principal insists that she must wear a skirt,” the father stated.
The principal’s actions, this irate father said that he wanted the Department of Education to take steps against the principal. The man was further quoted saying, “The principal said that he only welcomes female and male pupils at his school, not trash,” the father alleged.
The daily publication also reported that the provincial education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said the pupil “was never denied the right to attend school since last week. On 12 January, the principal asked the pupil to call her mother because she was not wearing the uniform as expected in the all-girls school,” added Malindi.
Malindi also highlighted that the pupil also allegedly informed the school authorities that her mother “was still working on getting the uniform,” he added. It is further reported that Malindi stated that “on 18 January, the principal asked her again and the pupil came back with a community member who was allegedly disrespectful. The principal called the mother because there was disclosure about the child’s sexual orientation, which he deemed essential to prepare teachers and learners at the school,” Malindi added.
Malindi further commented that after the principal got in contact with the pupils mother, she never came to the school. “The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex community is welcomed in all schools in the province,” added Malindi.
These claims were refuted by the child’s father, who said the school was lying as his daughter had proper uniform. “She was chased away because she refused to wear a skirt,” the father alluded. He further stated that he was the one who went to school with his daughter “but the principal chased us away,” he stated.
It has been reported that the pupil has since been allowed back at school without being forced to wear a skirt. Taung’s LGBTQI+ community’s Tshepiso Polisane said they had policies in place that the department needed to recognise. “Let pupils wear what they are comfortable with and stop the homophobic attack,” stated Polisane.
