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SCHOOLS’ VIOLENCE: WHO’S TO BLAME?

02/06/2019 08:14:00 BY Alex Nxumalo

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The gradually, but ominously escalating and perplexing violence at some schools, especially in higher grades, is an increasing and worrying cause for concern, not only for the children’s future but for society at large, inclusive of parents, communities and civil authority.

Violence at schools can be described as physical attacks between pupils, or worse, by students on teaching staff. This can take place during school events like inter-schools sports or right inside school premises.
Violence at schools takes many forms, including bullying of other children, brawls, stabbings, and even fatal shootings. We sometimes read about violence in schools in the media, taking place in some neighbouring countries and abroad, and sadly, some end up in fatalities and/or life threatening severe injuries.
A couple of weeks or so ago, one local school was in the news for the wrong reasons, where some of its pupils completely lost it - rioting, setting alight, vandalizing school property, including the damaging of some cars belonging to the teaching staff.

alleged sexual abuse

The rioting was allegedly sparked off by accusations of sexual abuse of some female pupils by male teachers. The school was subsequently closed indefinitely.
As a result of the mayhem, it is alleged that several pupils who were allegedly suspected to be ringleaders behind the rioting were rounded up by the police, charged and are currently out on bail.
Irrespective of the reasons behind such heinous acts from our children, the glaring fact remains, that parents work their socks off to send their offspring to school - for the important reason of educating them, preparing and equiping them with skills that will enable them to fend for themselves in the cutthroat outside world. Simply put, arming them for a productive future.

The wanton acts of violence by our children demand that serious and concerted efforts from all stakeholders concerned, to find out the underlying causes behind such inconsequential deeds and put in place lasting structures and solutions that could curb such. The fingered pupils now may have criminal records, which may affect their future employment prospects.

As a concerned parent and citizen - and hopefully I am not alone on this one - I saw it appropriate and fitting to dig a bit deeper into the issue and find out what could be the main, possible underlying cause or causes of such a disturbing trend of incidences.
Granted, we have not as yet reached panic status over the issue of violence in schools just like other countries, but the wise never fail to preach this gospel: prevention is better than cure.
The sporadic violence in some schools needs to be prevented, nipped in the bud while it is still in its infancy, before it balloons and blows out into a national problem.

Without sounding as being biased, it is an open secret that the trend with most societies is more often than not, to heap and put blame on teaching staff, especially blaming them for their perceived lack of instilling discipline, with society failing (or is it, unwilling?) to scratch deeper beneath the surface, looking at both sides of the coin and find out the causes.

I am not a teacher, have never been one, but if truth be told, I, like many citizens, have been a pupil, decades ago. At the time, our levels of morality as pupils were still pure and unadulterated, unlike nowadays. But, I cannot lie and say we pupils of that time were saints or beyond reproach. Like all growing, hyperactive and impressionable children, we had our flaws. There existed that stubborn and rebellious streak, especially common among children gathered together under one, common environment.
Later in this article, are extracts from an interview I sought and had with a prominent educator who occupies a prominent position in the highest echelons of the powerful, local teachers union, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT).
As promised earlier in the preamble of this article, I solicited the views of a prominent SNAT leader, Mr Sikelela Dlamini and these are extracts from his most appreciated views.

He pointed out that as parents, we at times use corporal punishment, which by its very nature teaches not, but hurts and imposes indiscriminately. Culturally, it has been Eswatini’s way of life of using the rod at times in instilling erratic behaviour, bringing up future generations, losing sight of the fact that children, by nature, love to explore and experiment. Sadly, as a society, we have turned around and cursed our very own handiwork.

breakdown in family units

He further went on to point out that cohesive breakdown in family units exacerbates discipline. Peer pressure becomes cannon fodder, especially in secondary schools, adulterating strong family and societal values. Teachers cannot be spared in worsening situations by dating pupils, taking advantage of the gullibility of children. How with the age gap difference between today’s teachers and pupils narrowing down progressively....?

He emphasized that for some, the teaching profession has ceased to be a calling. Teaching has become a means to an end to stave off unemployment. Poor remuneration, coupled with unconducive working conditions, also play an integral part. The unprofessional treatment of teachers by authorities is not helping matters any better. Under such unpalatable conditions, teachers’ proclivity to act in a worthless manner - being treated as such - does contribute to declining standards.

Spiralling enrolment, absence of resources, add to bad working conditions. Lastly, he pointed out that society’s apathetic and nonchalant attitude towards the plight of teachers is not helping the situation at all. Ominously, he concluded that we as a society have created the indiscipline monster, which we now dread so much.

Well, my verdict? We are all to blame and let us spare a thought for teachers in light of the fact that they play multiple roles of being educators, surrogate parents, unofficial law enforcement agencies and providing social services. Shalom!