It is that time of year again when many Grade 12 learners celebrate the end of their school careers by doing things such as tearing up their school uniforms or writing all over their shirts, rendering them impractical for future use.
A 19-year-old learner from Thivhilaeli Secondary School at Maniini, Unarine Ramagoma, has launched a campaign to stop such practices. She is urging matriculants to donate their school uniforms to those who struggle to afford clothes instead.
Ramagoma explained that she was perplexed when seeing how older learners - who should be setting an example and supporting their younger peers - were tearing up their uniforms after writing their final exams.
"At first, I regarded this as an act of bravery and told myself I would do it when I completed Grade 12. But it was while I was in a taxi the other day that a man sitting next to me asked about the rationale behind the uniform craze. I could not give any specific reason for why learners do it. That conversation opened my eyes and mind, and I began to see things differently," she said.
Ramagoma believes that the old uniforms could make a huge difference for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A learner, who opted to remain anonymous, said she would tear up her uniform simply because others were doing it. "I don't even know why it's done, but I love it when I see others doing it. I assume it's a symbol that one is going to pass and not return to the same class. I fear that if I don't do it, others will pass and I'll have to repeat the class, but I also feel it's a wasteful exercise," she said.
A parent, Ms Edith Mudau, expressed her disapproval of the craze, calling for learners to stop the practice. "I am disgusted by the conduct of learners, and if my son dares to do it, he should not even come back home. The uniforms could be used by needy learners. There are so many disadvantaged learners here. Another thing that bothers me is the 'pens down bashes,' where they engage in drinking binges that end in fights and unprotected sex. This should be condemned at all costs," she said.