A Bokmakierie boy nearly missed his Grade 7 prom last night after he was added to the school’s naughty list and denied entry.
But the angry father of Jiyaad Bastian, 14, refused to let the matter go, calling the principal “petty” and demanding answers after saving R3000 for his boy’s big day.
Jamiel Bastian, 51, says several months ago, his son was part of a group of boys who threw stones and accidentally broke a window at the school and was put on the “naughty list”.
“They called us in, but no disciplinary steps were taken and I made sure he apologised and did not do it again,” says the dad.
“We heard that children who were on this ‘naughty list’ would be banned from the prom and instead the school would have a private supper for only 13 laaities.
UPSET: Jamiel Bastian. Picture: Monique Duval
“There are more than 30 kids in Grade 7 so that means more than half could not go.”
He says while his son initially received an invitation, he got a skrik when he arrived on Monday to pay the required R200 for the ticket.
“The principal just told me ‘no, he is not coming’ and that is the end of the story, but I was not leaving it like that,” says Jamiel.
“He wasn’t on the list, but the list is petty and they can’t even say that the 13 laaities going were never naughty.
“But also they never told me, so I made plans and spent R3000 on his clothes, the car and cake for the table because it’s a big day. I saved for a long time.”
Other angry parents gathered outside the school on Tuesday. A 44-year-old mother, who asked not to be named, says her daughter was also banned from the prom after writing on a wall.
“As punishment, they made her clean it and she was never in trouble again, but then she got a letter saying she is not going to this dinner.
“This is Bokmakierie, the parents here are poor and we have to save for something like this.
“My daughter is very upset and the children are unhappy because some of their friends will not be there.”
Jamiel says after the Daily Voice visited the school on Tuesday, he was called in for a meeting by the principal.
“She knew the newspaper was here and said my son can attend the dinner,” he says.
BANNED: Jiyaad Bastian,14, was denied entry to his Grade 7 prom. Picture: Monique Duval
Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson, Bronagh Hammond, confirms that only 14 laaities will be attending the prom.
“The other learners in the grade will not be attending due to disciplinary reasons,” she says.
“The learners and parents were informed earlier this year that if a learner transgresses the code of conduct three times, then they cannot attend the dance.
“Proms and dances are an extra-social activity not planned or administered by the WCED. It is therefore the decision of the School Governing Body.”