ZULU Monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini has questioned the abolishment of corporal punishment in school, saying this has contributed to ill-discipline of learners.
Speaking at Umfolozi TVET College on Tuesday at a meeting with King Cetshwayo and Umkhanyakude districts’ school principals, Zwelithini said in light of the total lack of order in schools, the many reports of violent incidents and a culture of laziness among learners, ‘one wonders if the government took the correct decisions by abolishing corporal punishment in the classroom’.
‘Without even having to hit a learner, the mere presence of a cane in class inspires learners to pull up their socks and work harder at their studies.
‘Having said that, I must emphasise that I’m against abusive teachers who hit learners without good cause,’ the King said.
He also urged community members, including school governing bodies, to ensure that schools remain institutions of learning and are not turned into taverns.
‘There is a danger in having schools located next to taverns which operate during schools hours.
‘It saddens me to see people destroying our children’s future for their own self enrichment agendas. This is where you need to intervene as the community, assisting principals to govern their schools.
‘The school violence in this district (King Cetshwayo) is a worrying factor. We have seen learners going to schools armed with dangerous weapons to commit crime. I also share the pains you are going through as teachers and principals of these schools.’
Killing of teachers
Accompanied by KZN MEC for Education, Mthandeni Dlungwana, King also challenged the KZN government to appoint a commission to probe the killing of teachers.
‘We have noted the swift reaction by government when politicians are being killed. There is nothing wrong with that, but one would expect the same commitment with regards to the killing of educators. Teachers and school principals are being killed left, right and centre.
‘These teachers were killed by criminals in broad daylight in full view of their colleagues and learners. It think it is time we have a commission to probe their killings as well,’ he said.
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