Mixed reaction over the “head boy and “head girl” concepts
“It is about time we build an inclusive education system that will protect learners from LGBTI+ community” – The Foundation for Education and Social Justice Africa.
In an article by The Star, at the beginning of the year, the foundation openly said concepts such as “head boy” and “head girl” discriminate against pupils who do not identify as male or female, excluding them from participating in leadership structures in schools.
KZN Education Spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi commenting on the matter, said that education by its nature of name is dynamic and it evolves. “The views that are being echoed are not far from the truth and what is obtained in the society of the school is that the microcosm of their narrative/argument is constitutionally based.
What is left is to agree on the modality to do it,” said Mahlambi.
The call for abolition of such concepts by the foundation attracted mixed reactions from the public in social media platforms. UNIQ Magazine SA took to the streets to hear the different views of the public on the issue.
This is what members of the community had to say:
Phumlani Simamane, a right-wing conservative
said he is very disappointed in this. “The Department has so many other higher priorities, but they are busy wanting to have unisex toilets and now LGBTI+. I’m not in favor of this and totally opposed to it. As long as we still have children out there who have disabilities, children out there who don’t have learning facilities, access to quality education and then the department wants to put this up as something that must happen?
No, they must just leave us alone,” said Simamane.
Lethu Matola, said that the gender topic is going to create issues with our kids looking at the direction it’s headed. It also creates problems for people who haven’t accepted the idea that some people feel very pressured into being male or female and prefer being identified as they or them. “If we are implementing it in schools, it feels as though we are forcing the topic for gender to be taught in such a way that there is no girl, there is no boy and just a head person Head boy and head girl helps because it motivates both sexes to be the head unless an individual refuses personally to be identified or gender specific,” said Matola.
Poet and author, Thando Fuze said that if we are trying to move forward as a country, the systems need to be dismantled from the foundation phase. “Education on gender, gender fluidity and gender equality need to start with our children who by the way, in most cases, are not the issue but are influenced by their elders. Doing away with these kinds of labels will empower young girls to compete (healthily) on the same level as and with their male counterparts, without feeling as though they need to overcompensate for their achievements. Furthermore, this will definitely build their confidence moving into the ‘real world’,” said Fuze.
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