The Hill High School held a discipline intervention workshop on September 7.
Learners from Grades Eight to 11, who contributed negatively to teaching and learning in terms of late coming, bunking, fighting, high absenteeism, disrespect, bullying, and smoking, attended the workshop with their parents to address these issues.
Caring Neighbours South Africa, a newly formed organisation, attempts to address learner issues in local schools.
The organisation was supported by other community stakeholders such as the Department of Education, Department of Safety, Education District D11 office, the NPA, Moffatview SAPS, Moffatview CPF Sector 1, SANCA, IDSO’s, Ward 56 Clr Michael Crichton and the Gauteng Department of Social Development.
Stakeholders addressed the learners and parents in support of the school’s disciplinary committee and requested the parents to work with the school to ensure their children’s behaviour improves for their own benefit.
Poomenthri Pillay, deputy principal at The Hill, spoke about how many issues affect the learners.
“We have been dealing with learner’s transgressions, be it minor or major, and we have to deal with socioeconomic issues and other circumstances that contribute to their behaviour.
“We need to reassess our strategies by getting the communities involved. We also need support from other stakeholders and the community to address issues,” Pillay said.
Sagie Pillay, a member of Caring Neighbours SA, mentioned the programmes the organisation was starting to help address discipline in schools.
“A learner’s poor behaviour in school contributes to a decline in their academic results. Some learners have been recruited to sell drugs in their schools.
“Caring Neighbours SA hopes to aid the school, along with various stakeholders, to reach out to other schools within the Moffatview and Booysens precinct to introduce intervention programmes that could assist more schools,” he said.
