HETN CONDEMNS RACISM AT CURRO ROODEPLAAT

The Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN), hereby strongly condemns the racist classroom practices taking place at Curro Roodeplaat private school.

We welcome the prompt intervention by Gauteng MEC of Education, Mr Panyaza Lesufi to try and enforce Constitutional compliance at the school. We also thank the parents of learners at Curro Roodeplaat school for exposing such racist classroom practices. In the same note we urge more parents to get more involved in the education of their children by exposing negative practices that can have dire consequences for the future of their children.

What happened in Curro should be a lesson to all schools, public and private alike, as schools exist primarily for the benefit of children (and not profit). The public statements by the schools' proprietors, Curro Holdings Ltd, as represented by the CEO, Mr Chris van der Merwe, does little to address the fundamental core issues regarding the underlying justification for segregating children at a very young age and inadvertently indoctrinating and regimentalizing racist attitudes amongst young children at a tender age.

The Network will not fold its arms whilst racist classroom practices proliferate contrary to the Constitution of the Republic.

In this regard, we warn Curro Holdings Ltd and its associated holding company, PSG Limited, that we will not hesitate to litigate on the matter should the school fail to outline concrete plans on ensuring that racist classroom practices cease at the school and a clear outline of when Curro Holdings Ltd plans to employ more black teachers at Roodeplaat and other schools within the group.

About the Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN):-

The Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN) is an independent network of alumni and graduates from various higher education and further educational institutions across South Africa committed to the process of transformation of education and training to increase equitable and meaningful access to education, skills and learning to eliminate of socio-economic disparities.

Statement issued by Mr Lucky Thekisho Chairperson of the Board, HETN, February 3 2015

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