KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education MEC Mthandeni Dlungwane has urged grade 12 pupils to tone down their post exams celebrations, not to destroy uniforms and to resist pressure to abuse alcohol and drugs.
Dlungwane asked the matrics to consider those less fortunate and said they should donate their school uniform to others rather than tearing or writing on them as they celebrate the end of exams.
The pupils write their last paper, Agriculture Management Practices, on November 28.
“As the National Senior Certificate examinations draw to a close, we want to caution learners against irresponsible behavior, particularly the disturbing tendency by Grade 12 learners of tearing up and writing on their uniforms on the last day of exams,” said Dlungwane in a statement.
He said this habit was unacceptable.
“We want to inculcate a culture of responsible citizenship. With our triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment, we cannot afford to have this practice continuing unabated,” he said.
“We want to ask our learners to ensure that on their last day of exams, they donate their uniforms so that those learners from indigent families can benefit,” said the MEC.
Dlungwane also urged the pupils to behave responsibly during the holidays. “Whether it is a holiday or not, learners must conduct themselves in a responsible manner and stay away from irresponsible behavior.
“We take a very dim view on the so-called ‘pens down’ events and rave parties where our learners abuse alcohol and drugs, which results in some learners getting raped,” he said.