GDE INVESTIGATES CURRO SOCIAL MEDIA POST
4 April 2024
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) conducted a preliminary investigation on the matter concerning a recent social media post by Curro, which members of the public found to have racist undertones.
BREAKING NEWS: White racist rub school Curro has done it again.
— PSAFLIVE (@PSAFLIVE) April 1, 2024
Curro posted a picture of a black child being a Shoprite cashier while white children children were posted withdrawing money from Capitec Bank and buy from a black child, other white children were animal vets.
The… pic.twitter.com/rboUlYStve
Our findings were that the learners depicted in the pictures used in the social media post were from a Curro school in the Western Cape. They went on an excursion to an activity centre where they interacted within various career contexts using career-specific apparatus.
In this activity centre, most children had to exchange roles to experience different careers, and photos were taken of them interacting within those career roles. One child could have gone through three to four roles by the end of the day. There is pictorial evidence of different children playing different roles.
The pictures that were posted on social media were initially shared internally within the school for a week, and there were no challenges. The error of judgment was to selectively post pictures that excluded some learners playing in other career roles, causing a public outcry as a result.
The mother of the learner depicted as a cashier in one of the photos that were posted is aware of the matter and has expressed support for the school. She has also given the school permission to engage in the matter.
Accordingly, Curro operates on four core values: child friendliness, Christian ethos, creativity and positive discipline.
In cases where there are infringements to the core values of the group, those who are found guilty are held accountable. In the investigation, Curro Holdings expressed a zero tolerance towards discrimination of any kind, in particular, racial discrimination. An example of this is the dismissal of the headmaster at one Curro school who had called black teachers monkeys.
Curro has established an ethics and social transformation committee. This committee coordinates programmes and campaigns for transformation, inclusion and social justice in all layers of the school group.
Curro Holdings also conducts surveys on an annual basis to staff, parents and learners across its campuses to assess, among other things, whether all stakeholders feel included. Most of the results come out positive. However, there are fewer instances of non-inclusion. In these cases, Curro Holdings investigates and intervenes.
This case in question, according to the Deputy CEO, has strengthened the resolve to intensify diversity and non-racism programmes in the school, coupled with the appropriate use of social media.
“We are satisfied that Curro takes social cohesion seriously. Their footprint in Gauteng’s education system is significant, hence we will always intervene in matters that involve racial discrimination at schools,” said MEC Matome Chiloane.
Statement issued by Gauteng Department of Education’s Spokesperson, Steve Mabona and Spokesperson for Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, Xolani Mkhwemte, 4 April 2024
