AN African girl applied to study Grade 10 at La Rochelle Girls’ High for the year 2010, but the Principal phoned her mother telling her that they cannot accept her; she must stay at her present school.
When I phoned the school to enquire why they can’t accept her, the answer was it would be a waste of her time to interview the girl, because she didn’t do well in English.
I then asked her, does that disqualify her for an interview or study at the school. Her answer was that she will look at her applications again and let me know in August.
La Rochelle Girls’ High has more than 500 learners; however there are only nine black African learners in the school.
This year there is not a single African black learner in Grade 8 - if this is to be the trend in the future that means the school will not have a single black African learner in a few years’ time.
Thembelani Zweni
Amanda Lochner, principal, replies: It saddens me to be subjected to this kind of misinterpretation.
The contents of the letter, including the reference to ‘not a single black learner in Grade 8’, is false and misleading.
At La Rochelle GHS we remain proud of the role we play in maintaining excellence while embracing diversity.
