Six pupils are currently idling at home after being found to be involved in same-sex relationships.
The girls, three couples, were reportedly expelled from Dvokolwako High School last Monday.
Sources close to the matter said the decision to dismiss the learners was made following a vote by a majority of the parents with children at the school.
Impeccable sources disclosed that prior to the decision, on Thursday, March 19, school authorities discovered that some learners from different grades were involved in romantic relationships. It is alleged that several couples were identified, some heterosexual, while 10 learners were involved in same-sex relationships.
While all pupils were punished for engaging in relationships, sources said only three of the alleged same-sex couples were confirmed.
A source alleged that these couples openly declared their sexuality in the presence of their parents, representatives of the parents’ body and school authorities including Headteacher Sabelo Sibandze.
However, Sibandze’s tenure is said to have elapsed on the same week.
Sources further revealed that the developments prompted a resolution to convene a parents’ meeting last Monday.
The report of same-sex relationships did not sit well with a majority of the parents, who reportedly voted for the six girls to be removed from the school.
“The parents felt that these learners were a bad influence on others. They were resolute in their decision, such that pleas from the affected girls’ parents for a second chance fell on deaf ears,” said a source.
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The girls have reportedly not attended school for the remainder of last week.
“This matter has been the talk of the area, everyone is discussing it. It has also divided parents, as some believe the girls should not have been expelled, while others feel the decision was justified,” said another source.
Responding to concerns from those opposed to the expulsion, some parents argued that allowing such behaviour would set a precedence, suggesting that even learners who wished to bring weapons to school might expect similar tolerance.
Other parents recalled that the school’s reputation had previously been tarnished in 2019 when it made headlines for negative reasons.
Efforts to get a comment from the school’s former Headteacher Sabelo Sibandze proved futile as he said he could not speak about Dvokolwako High School matters since he was no longer its headteacher following his retirement.
The incident comes barely three months after Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo spoke out against same-sex relationships among learners.
During a series of school visits around Mbabane, the minister reportedly stated that there was no place for same-sex relationships in schools.
He is said to have emphasised that schools were established to educate and mould learners for the future, not to accommodate relationships that distract them from their studies.
He reportedly described same-sex relationships as unacceptable within the school environment, arguing that they were contrary to religious beliefs and cultural traditions.
He further indicated that such relationships negatively affected discipline and learning, and posed a threat to what he termed the moral development of learners.
According to the minister, teachers and school authorities had a responsibility to remain vigilant and ensure that school rules were upheld at all times.
He reportedly stressed that educators should act decisively when confronted with behaviour that contravened school regulations and ministry expectations.
