There is no end in sight in the war of words between Equal Education and Western Cape education MEC Debbie Schafer. Schafer released her official response yesterday to the nongovernmental organisation's audit saying school pupils contended with rape, sexual harassment, lack of security and corporal punishment.But Equal Education said a written response was not enough, calling on Schafer to face pupils in a public forum.The MEC was critical of the organisation's methods and sample size - 912 pupils from 244 schools - and said it made "erroneous assumptions".But it also raised valid concerns."I am especially concerned about the allegations around corporal punishment and sexual violence, and the lack of maintenance of sanitation facilities, as this is an issue of human dignity," she said.Her department treated such allegations seriously and investigated each case. "However, it is a concern that many learners have claimed to have experienced either corporal punishment or sexual violence which has gone unreported."Nishal Robb, Equal Education head in the Western Cape, said the province should meet pupils to hear their concerns and solutions."I think it's an abdication of their duties as public servants to think that they don't actually have to come and explain the decision with stakeholders," he said...