Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga cautioned pupils against attending ‘pens down’ parties after finishing their matric exams.
THE DEPARTMENT of Basic Education, the Parents Association and the Congress of SA Students (Cosas) have criticised “pens down” parties, with Cosas saying parents should not allow their children to attend these parties.
Pens down parties are celebrated by pupils after writing their final matric exams.
Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga cautioned pupils against attending the pens down parties after they had finished their matric exams.
Mhlanga said it was sad when the exam results came out and some pupils were no longer alive to see the results of their work.
He said: “Reaching Grade 12 shows that you have travelled a long journey already in your life and dying because you were at a party is completely unnecessary.”
He said over the past years they had received reports of pupils dying or being beaten up while going out or at the parties.
“We have observed a situation where every year when exams are concluded there is a huge movement of people going to other provinces to the pens down parties,” he said.
Mhlanga said that these parties were controversial because when they took place something negative was bound to happen.
“It is either someone drowns and dies or there will be someone beaten up or there will be an accident that will either be at the event or next to it. How parents allow their children to go to these parties would never make sense.”
Mhlanga added that pupils should take care or even better avoid such parties because they have their whole lives ahead of them.
Parents Association chairperson Vee Gani said it was not a problem for pupils to want to celebrate but they needed supervision because they were still young.
“I do not blame the department for condemning these parties because something negative always comes up,” said Gani.
He added that if the pupils wanted to celebrate they should do so in reputable areas.
“Parents also need to be cautious on who goes with their children, where they are going, what they will be doing and what time they will be back home.”
He advised that parents should take their children wherever they are going and see the place. He said it was irresponsible of parents to just allow their children to go out without knowing who they will be with and what will be happening.
“With everything being easily accessible like alcohol and drugs, parents must not allow their children to go to nightclubs or to parties unsupervised.”
Cosas secretary Khetha Mtshodi said the organisation has never supported the pens down parties.
He said parents should not allow their children to attend these as their children would be most likely be exposed to alcohol. He said the government could also assist in shutting down these parties.
