With all that has been happening in schools across the country, Kathorus MAIL asked learners what causes violence in schools and what can be done to eliminate it.
Kelebogile Chokoe
Bokamoso Mapena, a Grade 11 learner at Katlehong High School, who is an RCL secretary (17): "Bullying causes violence in schools. There are learners who are older than others at school. They are the ones who end up bullying others.
"I think learners over the ages of 19 should go to ABET schools."
With all that has been happening in schools across the country, Kathorus MAIL asked learners what causes violence in schools and what can be done to eliminate it.
Liberty Mapako, a Grade 11 learner at Thabo Ntsako Secondary School (17): “Lack of parental guidance as well as the family background. Charity begins at home so what learners bring to school is what they get from home. They also lack good role models.
Solving this could be by starting to speak to parents first to understand how children were raised and also organise counselling for learners.”
Simphiwe Mopeli, a Grade 11 learner at Katlehong High School and an RCL treasurer (17): “Violence is caused by how teachers or elderly people react in some situations and how they respond to learners. Sometimes, in cases of a conflict between a learner and a teacher, other teachers would take the teacher’s side without listening to all parties’ stories.
It can be solved by having equal respect between learners and teachers because what leads other learners to be emotional is what they get from t
Bheka Myeni, a Grade 10 learner from Katlehong Technical High School (18): “Violence is caused by gangs in schools. As boys we have our groups. Secondly, a person would want others to be scared of him or her as well as anger or peer pressure.
There’s nothing that can be done to eliminate violence in schools because already there are securities who are not protecting us as learners. A school should be a place where we are safe but when we get here we arrive at a gang zone.”
Lesole Swati, a Grade 10 learner at Katlehong High School, who is also a sub-branch secretary of COSAS (17): “Learners are not disciplined and they don’t respect teachers. Learners should also learn to follow the code of conduct of the school.
Learners who are much older should lead by example and show younger learners how to be responsible and how to respect. Teachers must also stop corporal punishment as some learners take it personal.”
Matlolobe Sebei, a Grade 11 learner at Thabo Ntsako Secondary School (17): “What causes violence in schools is what happens in different homes, what we see in our homes and hanging around with wrong crowds. Some learners come from families where parents fight every day.
Each school should have a social worker and a therapist. Celebrities should also come to schools to motivate us and tell us how they grew up. Their upbringing might inspire some learners.”
Thembelihle Msibi, a Grade 10 learner at Katlehong Technical High School (15): “Violence is caused by gangs, which are in our schools and uncontrolled anger issues. There are learners who have anger and once you provoke them they lash out their anger.
A solution can be adding more school patrollers and also expel those who are in gangs. Schools should also have social workers so that a learner can have someone to talk to when having an issue that is bothering them.”
Vusi Mhlongo, a Grade 10 learner at Thuto Pele High School (20): “Loving wrong things, such as drugs and weapons. I’ve noticed that I was a good boy until I started smoking. I have become a bad boy, so drugs and cigarettes also affect us.
Drugs should be eliminated in our neighbourhoods and in schools. Again, every school should have a social worker so that we’d have someone to talk to when we battle with some issues.”
Thabo Moloi, a Grade 11 learner at Thuto Pele High School (19): “What causes violence in schools is tribalism and peer pressure. Learners always argue about which tribe is better than the other and they also disrespect one another.
What could solve this is expelling learners who are disrespectful in schools.”
Mamaile Hlabi, a Grade 11 learner at Thabo Ntsako Secondary School (17): “Gangsterism, which is caused by peer pressure. Learners involve themselves with the wrong people. Other learners come to school drunk or high, then they end up fighting with others.
Learners who are disruptive should get counselling and good mentors.”
Mpho Disene, a Grade 10 learner at Thuto Pele High School (18): “What causes violence in schools is the number of gangs in schools, peer pressure and tribalism.
Learners should learn to speak to someone and open up about what they are battling with. The level of smoking in schools should also be decreased.”
Nomthandazo Sbongakonke Khumalo, a Grade Nine learner at Katlehong Technical High School (15): “There are learners who come from home having anger issues and others want to make such a statement that even when they are not at school they should be remembered. Gangs also contribute to violence at schools.
There should be tight security in schools. The security here just looks at us even when we fight. Another thing which they can assist us with is if they close down Jamaica (a smoking zone).”
Sthandwa Sithole, a Grade 10 learner from Katlehong Technical High School (18): “The upbringing and the environment where a learner comes from is what leads them to be violent.
Social workers should be invited to schools to come and speak to the learners. Every school should actually have at least one social worker.”
Molemo Futheni, a Grade 11 learner at Thabo Ntsako Secondary School (17): “Peer pressure, the role models which learners look up to and the communities we live in all play a role in the violence we experience in schools.
Programmes which could teach us the right way of life and the consequence of being involved in violent activities should be created.”
Dineo Seimela, a Grade 10 learner at Thuto Pele High School (19): “Violence in schools is created by tribalism and anger from home. Teachers also speak badly to the learners.
Communication is important between all bodies of the school. Social workers for both teachers and learners are needed.”
Phaili Mogoboya, a Grade 11 learner at Katlehong High School and an RCL president (18): “There is conflict between learners and teachers. Some learners are late-comers. They disrespect teachers and also have bad behaviour. That’s what leads to the conflict.
Learners should be able to listen to their teachers. That can assist in eliminating violence in schools.”
