The Guardian

The principal at Marubising Secondary School allegedly forced a lesbian learner to wear skirt

By OBAKENG MAJE

A parent of a Grade 9 learner at Marubising Secondary School in Cokonyane village, near Taung alleged that his daughter (15) was mocked and discriminated against by the school principal because of her sexual orientation.

The parent (34) said, on 18 January 2023, her daughter, who is a lesbian was allegedly chased out of school by the school principal, who forced her to go and wear a skirt.

“My daughter grew up as a lesbian and wears boys’ clothes. However, the school principal insisted that, she must wear a skirt. Now, last week, my daughter refused to go to school because she was forced to wear a skirt, which is something that she is not comfortable with.

“I urge the North West Department of Education to take necessary steps against the principal because he is abusing his powers. The principal said, he only welcomes female and male learners at his school, not ditrase (which is an insulting name against people of the same sex orientation),” he said.  

However, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said, the allegations are untrue and unfounded. Malindi said the learner was never denied the right to attend school at any point given in time since her registration last week.

“The principal requested the learner to call her mother on 12 January 2023 after an observation that, she was not wearing a proper uniform as expected by the school for all girl learners.

“After questioning her, she indicated that the mother was still working on getting the school uniform and was never refused to attend school. On 18 January 2023, the principal requested her to go and call the mother, since she promised the uniform would be organised very soon,” he said.

Malindi further said, instead, the learner came back with a community member who was arrogant and disrespectful.

“The principal only called the mother because there was never any orientation made or disclosed to the office about the sexual orientation of the child, which he deemed very essential for him to prepare other educators and learners.

“The parent didn’t come to the school to make the principal and management aware of the learner’s sexual orientation. The department wishes to make it clear that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) community is welcomed in all schools within this province,” said Malindi.

However, the father described Malindi’s remarks as absurd because no community member accompanied the learner to the school He also said, his daughter had a proper school uniform prior the incident.

The LGBQTI chairperson in Taung, Tshepiso Polisane said: “If that was the case, then the school is not fair. Any learner at any school must feel free at all times, irrespective of her or his sexual orientation.

“We do have policies that are in place and the department must recognise them. Let learners wear something that is comfortable with and stop this homophobic attack against the LGBTQI community.”

Meanwhile, Congress of South African Students (COSAS) Secretary-General, Bongane Ndlovu said, no learner in any school should be treated differently or valued less because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“No person whether he or she is a teacher, a principal, a parent, or another learner is allowed to treat any learner differently because of the manner in which, they express their gender, or because of the persons they are attracted to.

“To do so would amount to an infringement of their rights to equality and dignity. Such conduct is prohibited by our constitution and I would like to advise the parents to go and open a criminal case against the principal,” Ndlovu said.

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