Picture: The Gabobidiwe Secondary School in Buxton village
By BAKENG MAJE
Parents at Gabobidiwe Secondary School in Buxton village, near Taung, raised some concerns. This comes after the school principal allegedly prohibited transgender learners from entering the school without wearing skirts.
One of the parents who cannot be named to protect her Grade 9 learner who is a minor alleged that, the incident took place last week. She said now lesbian learners are idling at home and that will affect their school work.
“We were left despondent as parents after our children were refused entry at the school by the principal. My daughter is a lesbian, but the principal is forcing her and other learners to wear skirts. She said she does not feel comfortable wearing a skirt because other learners are mocking her.
“So, in January 2024, we took this matter to the sub-district office in Taung, and the learners were allowed to go to school. However, now the principal said all transgender learners should wear skirts because they are ruining the school’s reputation,” she said.
She said the principal allegedly told them to take transfer letters if they do not want to comply. She said they urge the North West Department of Education for intervention.
The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said, the school has a uniform policy on which uniform is dressed on which day. Molokwane further said the policy has been implemented as such until December 2023 and there were no complaints.
“This year, the school got new learners who do not agree with the school’s uniform policy. As the department, we spoke to the principal to immediately allow learners to wear uniform properly whether a skirt or trousers it does not matter as so long is clean.
“Tracksuits to have a Special Day on Wednesdays and other days, a skirt/formal trouser with a prescribed shirt or tie. Girls and boys are allowed to choose between trousers or skirts as long as the uniform is in school colour and prescribed patterns,” he said.
Molokwane added that the uniform must be clean at all times. He said the National Guidelines of School Uniforms are obvious on how uniforms should be worn by learners in every school.
“So, we encourage parents together with learners to familiarize themselves with our policies so that we can have a similar clear understanding and a unified school,” said Molokwane.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Baga Mothibi LGBTQI+ community, Dimakatso Molusi said: “The school must allow transgender learners to wear the school uniform that corresponds to their gender identity by the right to education and non-discrimination in terms of the South African Constitution and the African Children’s Charter.
“So, this is not the first case that we are dealing with. We had a similar case at PH Mooketsi Agricultural School, where the principal allegedly forced a transgender learner to wear a skirt. So, we organised the meeting with the school, however, on the said day, the parents of the learner did not pitch.”
Molusi said this is unfair and discriminating against the LGBTQI+ community. She said discrimination against transgender and homosexual learners in South Africa is a concern.”
“Even though our organisation is under-resourced, we will continue to visit schools and engage various stakeholders in addressing the plague,” said Molusi.
The Guardian 