Two men were arrested in Botshabelo on Tuesday for allegedly burning down the principal's office at the Khoroyathuto High School during protests, Free State police said.
The pair, aged 18 and 19, was expected to appear in the Botshabelo Magistrate's Court on Thursday on charges of arson, spokeswoman Constable Consolation Mokoale said on Wednesday.
Grade 10 and 11 pupils who failed protested at the school on Monday, wanting to be promoted to a higher grade.
Police were called at 9am after pupils broke classroom windows, started fighting, barricaded roads and threw stones.
“They wanted the reports to be corrected, and the management of the school indicated that any learner who is having a concern about the failure must come individually with a parent so that the report can be compared with their scripts,” Mokoale said.
“Some of the learners and parents allegedly agreed with the process, but some did not. Those who did not agree with the process of the review started to fight at the principal's office.”
When police arrived on Monday stones were thrown at vehicles and a police van was damaged. Police managed to control the situation by firing rubber bullets. - Sapa