Cases have been lodged with the SA Human Rights Commission, the Department of Basic Education and the Equal Employment Law Centre as pupils attending Colesberg Combined School are apparently being subjected to a bathroom ban during class time.
CASES were lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the Department of Basic Education and the Equal Employment Law Centre as pupils attending Colesberg Combined School are apparently being subjected to a bathroom ban during classes.
Parents indicated that young children, including Grade 1 pupils, were only permitted to make use of the ablution facilities during break.
“During break time there are long queues outside the restrooms and pupils miss out on the feeding scheme meal. For some children this is the only meal that they have for the day,” parents pointed out.
According to correspondence, the school took a decision on May 5 that teachers should “assess the urgency” of each pupil, after cleaners complained that children were scribbling graffiti on the walls, stuffing toilet paper in the wash basins and flooding the bathroom by leaving the taps on.
Parents, however, believe that their children’s rights are being violated.
“Why are all the children being punished for ‘drawing naughty things’ on the wall? My eight-year-old child was left in tears when she was told that she was not allowed to go to the bathroom,” said one parent.
The mother of a Grade 3 pupil said her child had to undergo surgery to relieve pressure on his bladder and remove an abscess.
“There was blood in his urine and he contracted a bladder infection. My child went through a lot of trauma and suffering. His bladder was painful and swollen and the doctor is convinced that his medical condition is because he was not able to visit the bathroom. I am worried that he may develop more critical health problems in the future,” said the mother.
“A member of the school governing body (SGB) tried to obtain his medical records without my permission.”
She added that her son’s doctor was willing to visit the school to educate staff about the dangers and health implications of preventing children from emptying their bladders.
“A pupil who was menstruating was also prevented from visiting the restroom. Her uniform and chair were soaked in blood and she was teased by her peers. She felt embarrassed and did not want to attend classes.
“Another Grade 3 pupil wet herself in the class where one of the teachers had to take off her jersey and wrap it around the child.”
Another parent said that children were suffering from dehydration as they were afraid to drink any fluids from 7.30am until school dismissed at 1pm, in case they would need to make use of the restrooms.
The parents said they were advised that high school pupils were expected to produce a doctor’s letter in order to be granted permission to relieve themselves during class time.
“The regulation to suppress a natural bodily function cannot be applied to Grade1 to 4 pupils.”
Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said they were aware of the situation at Colesberg Combined School.
“The misunderstanding of the alleged rule with relation to the use of the bathroom emanates from complaints from the cleaners about high school learners who left their classes during tuition time to write on the bathroom walls, place toilet paper plugs in the washbasins and left the taps open to flood the toilets,” said Van der Merwe.
He explained that it was then decided that the high school teachers should manage the bathroom visits, by issuing letters to pupils who wanted to use the bathrooms during tuition time.
“This announcement was made to the staff on May 5. Since then, no complaint about the misuse of the bathrooms was reported.”
Van der Merwe added that an investigation committee was established after the allegations were made by a concerned parent.
“It was established that no school rule exists that prohibits learners from being excused from class to visit the bathroom.
“The specific pupil in question, was never refused to use the bathroom and therefore it cannot be the reason for his medical condition.”
Van der Merwe stated that their district office was continuing to monitor the situation and provide support to the school.
The acting provincial manager of the SAHRC, Anthony Wyngaard, said they would visit Colesberg Combined School in the next two weeks as part of their investigations.
The Equal Education Law Centre stated that it could not “disclose information regarding a client”.
The Department of Basic Education did not respond to media enquiries.
