Scandal at Mbekweni High: Outrage as Eastern Cape Teacher Sends Entire Class Home Over Missing Lollipop
In an unexpected turn of events, a high school teacher in the Eastern Cape dismissed an entire class and suspended the learners on suspicion of theft after her lollipop disappeared from her desk.
The incident, which occurred at Mbekweni High School near Komani (formerly Queenstown), has prompted an investigation by the Eastern Cape Education Department.
Furious parents swiftly took action, confronting the principal and demanding explanations for what they deemed a disproportionate response from the teacher.
Department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima confirmed the incident, noting that it took place earlier this week and that the students have since returned to school.
The teacher’s decision to send the students home and suspend them over the missing lollipop has sparked controversy, with parents labelling the accusation as “frivolous.”
The Education Department aims to address the matter promptly, dispatching a team to investigate and signalling that disciplinary action will follow if the teacher is found culpable.
“As the department we want to close this chapter, hence we have sent a team to the school to investigate the matter. Disciplinary processes will follow if it is found the teacher committed the offence,” said Mtima.
He said the department wants to deal with this matter quickly to ensure no child gets left behind in the classroom.
One concerned parent, speaking anonymously, recounted her shock upon learning that her daughter had been suspended for the alleged theft of a lollipop.
“I was shocked to hear that she was suspended because a teacher’s stick sweet went missing and no one knows who took it,” she said.
Upon discovering that other students had faced similar suspensions, the parent sought support from fellow parents to address the situation.
During discussions with the teacher, the parents proposed replacing the missing lollipop with several others in a bid to resolve the issue, yet the teacher declined the offer.
“We heard her side of the story, and we didn’t argue with her because we weren’t there when it happened. We suggested that we each buy her stick sweets so that our kids could go back to class but she refused,” the parent added.
The teacher allegedly stated that she only wanted the specific lollipop that she believed the students had taken. Frustrated, the parent implored the department to intervene, emphasizing that their children should not miss out on education due to a missing lollipop.