Meetings took place with the parents of the affected pupils, the school governing body SGB and the management team late last year, after the alarm was raised on the girls' choice not to wear tunics. However, an unsanctioned uniform code, which does not prescribe punitive measures against digressing pupils, has allegedlybeen enforced to get female pupils to wear only tunics. Female pupils, like the boys, are allowed to wear tracksuits only on Wednesdays and Fridays Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays are reserved for tunics for the girls. Thefurore has, in the meantime, led to at least two of the girls who spoke out this week after not going to school on Monday missing out on valuable learning. Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said the uniform policy and code of conduct were determined by parents, pupils and the SGB. However, he said the situation at Lungisa High was likely to set a precedent. "We are going to update that policy to ensure it fits the day, in other words, it is equivalent to the constitution, which says you cannot deprive children because of their gender, among other stipulations . "As a department, we are going to take teachers through training so they understand this matter, and how fluid gender issues are. "As a department we don't see boys and girls, but pupils. "We want to inculcate that thinking among the teachers." Until 2022, the affected pupils claimed not to have encountered issues with wearing the grey trousers or tracksuit pants. The uniform code further enforces that "only pupils who have applied, submitted relevant supporting documents and received the necessary permission from the SGB may deviate from official school uniform for REPORT CONTINUES: P2 FEELING PREJUDICED: Pupils from Lungisa Secondary School in KwaDwesi have spoken out about the treatment by their teachers because of their gender identity and their choice to wear trousers Picture: WERNER HILLS Don't force us into tunics, lesbian pupils plead REPORT FROM: P1 religious and cultural reasons". In its current form, it does not make allowance for lesbian pupils. This has angered the father of one of the children. "During the meetings, I stressed to the school that my daughter does not feel comfortable wearing a tunic, but they said it was the rules. "I reasoned that a pupil needed to feel comfortable in what they are wearing so they can concentrate on their studies," he said. "We had a backandforth and eventually agreed they should wear their tracksuits for the time being." The father said he was surprised that despite this resolution reached in October, his daughter was again battling the same issue. The grandmother of another grade 11 pupil expressed hurt and frustration about the situation. "I bought a new tracksuit for her after the meeting resolution but, to my surprise, she came home from school recently in tears, saying she was chased out of class. "But this is who she is. She was born this way. "Since the age of five, she did not want to wear dresses. "She would only go out and play when she was wearing shorts. "The situation is distressing for me, seeing how hurt and disappointed she seems most days." The woman, a pensioner, said she could not afford to buy a tunic in the event the school continued to insist on it for her orphaned granddaughter. She hoped the school could just allow for the children to wear tracksuits, as was the case at many other schools. "My child is a lesbian. "The school must be pro 'I stressed that my daughter does not feel comfortable wearing a tunic, but they said it was the rules' gressive in its policies and stop being regressive. "Other schools allow girls to wear pants," she said. One of the pupils said they had been booted out of the life orientation class several times last year allegedly for wearing their tracksuits. The trend has apparently continued since the new academic year kicked oft Recently, the two pupils also began missing out on other subjects after alleged hostility from the maths teacher, who admonished them for wearing tracksuits other than on the designated days. One pupil described how a teacher allegedly "outed" her in front of her peers. "She told me in front of my peers to stop wearing a tracksuit because I am a girl. "I was hurt by this," the 18yearold said. "There was another instance the next day in which the life orientation teacher sent us out of her class, embarrassing us in front of others." The other pupil said: "It is a sore situation for us. "We are comfortable wearing pants. "It's not like we are deviating from the school's rules. "Our parents have gone to the school to appeal to our teachers. "I am not comfortable in a tunic." The Herald understands that an incident last year, in which a boy crossdressed before going into the female toilets, spurred the school into en forcing a stricter dress code. A teacher who shared details about the incident, however, has since retracted the statement which gave information about the uniform policy. Education specialist Dr Philippa Fabbri said she found the situation at the school problematic. "A few other Gqeberha high schools have introduced pants, which allows flexibility, and learners opt for trousers, especially during the winter months," Fabbri said. She said schools should adopt progressive reforms to ensure uniform policies accommodated all gender identities. "A school uniform policy is usually adopted to eliminate social pressures related to fashion, and it eliminates competition for trendy, branded clothing. "It should foster more equality and promote a sense of belonging at a particular school. "A unisex or genderneutral uniform option is an easy way to provide choice within uniform guidelines. Proactive initiatives by staff and school management can prevent these issues from escalating." SAHRC Eastern Cape provincial manager Dr Eileen Carter said the commission, in a report issued in October, had found an overregulation of school uniforms, which constituted unfair discrimination. "That's why our recommendations included that school uniform policies must allow for children to be able to decide which school item they wish to wear, for whatever reason, and for it to be made available as part of the official school uniform policy." She said the commission was concerned the current policies were outdated and not in line with the constitutional principles of human dignity, equality, freedom of expression and the rights of children.

Source: The Herald