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Children Gambling to Support Families

SOUTH AFRICA – As reported by the Mercury: "Children are gambling at schools in KwaZulu-Natal to raise money to support their families and principals are allegedly trying to keep the problem under wraps to prevent their pupil numbers dropping.

"A recent survey done in schools for the National Gambling Board found that out of 4 000 pupils in grades 10 to 12 at 28 schools, almost 46 percent admitted to having gambled in and out of school.

"The study found that 27 percent of these were Indian, 20 percent white, 18 percent coloured and 8,5 percent African. The pupils had spent R200 or more on gambling but it could not be established on Wednesday in what period the money had been gambled.

"…Sayed Rajack, chairperson of the Parents Association in KwaZulu-Natal, said gambling was the best-kept secret in the province's schools, along with drugs and ill discipline, because principals feared that if parents knew the extent of these problems, they would take their children to other schools resulting in teachers losing their jobs.

"Some pupils, said Rajack, were gambling to get money to buy lunch and to feed their families. He said when children were caught gambling and taken to the school's disciplinary committee, parents testified that the money their children gained through gambling was a source of regular income for the family…"

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