Lesufi said the department was “shattered” that it had taken long for the incidents to come out.
“We are shocked. That is why we have taken the action that we have taken to remove the entire management of the school and also to remove the principal of the school‚ so that‚ when we investigate‚ we can be in a position to get evidence that will assist us.
“It’s not one person … it’s 83 children. We can’t just say our policies are functioning‚ our reporting structures are functioning … It’s not. The mere fact you can have 83 learners going through this pain‚ in one school under a year‚ it’s shocking.”
Lesufi said the department of education has failed the children and should take full responsibility.
“All of us‚ the entire education system must hang our heads in shame and say we failed society. We failed these children.”
Details of the alleged paedophile emerged after pupils told their parents that they had been touched inappropriately by the man.