Don't spare the rod, say pupils
Image by: BAFANA MAHLANGU, Sowetan
Soweto pupils yesterday called for sterner action against classmates who drink alcohol or use drugs at school.
They say more discipline would help to reduce the gangsterism and substance abuse problems that plague many schools in the township.
They were speaking at the second annual Soweto Learner Summit yesterday, an event hosted by the Gauteng department of education. It was attended by a few hundred pupils.
MEC for education Barbara Creecy said she was particularly concerned about Soweto schools because only 67.6% of their students passed matric last year in contrast to the Gauteng average of 81.1%.
Creecy called on Soweto pupils to "turn around the system in Soweto" by urging their classmates to arrive at class on time and conduct themselves responsibly .
"Can you get the message across to your peers to come on time to school?" she asked.
Pupils argued that discipline was needed.
They said students sold drugs on school premises, and two pupils said they knew of teachers who bought cigarettes from schoolboys.
Protea Glen Secondary School pupil Victor Mathunwa said he believed that "more discipline at schools would improve learning".
"Students gamble during teaching time. They even bet on soccer games at break," he said.
Siyabonga Secondary School pupil Lwanda Gawulekhaka called for corporal punishment to be reinstated to stop drunkenness and late-coming at schools.
Jabulani Technical High School pupil Hlalanathi Dlamini said teachers were unable to control older pupils, those 20 or older.
Dlamini also called on the department to implement better monitoring systems to ensure that teachers did not miss classes or arrive late.
Creecy said a plan of action would be formed to deal with students' concerns.
She said district education officials would make weekly surprise visits to Soweto schools to make sure teachers were in class.
She said the department was working with school governing bodies to help them take responsibility for discipline at their schools.
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Posted 323 days agoLoggenberg
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Kinders so na aan my hart. Klink soos my laities
Daffy
Posted 323 days agoILoveTheTruth
I agree with you, so the solution would be is to send them to the principal's office for a good caning. When I was at primary school, the teachers did not cane but sent us to the office if we misbehave or did not turn in homework. I also advise that the school advise the parents hereof and ask them to be present during punishment, if they should agree. It should be left to the parents to decide whether they want their children punished in this way or not, and not the state.
zindela
Posted 323 days agoILoveTheTruth
Punishment is a universal occurrence and should be no different in schools. I would say that a major reason for today's ill discipline is the fact that corporal punishment was can(n)ed.
muk1
Posted 323 days agoRSA.MommaCyndi
Posted 323 days agoThe problem is that today, the line between a good hiding and vicious battery has been crossed too many times by the schools. I'm not sure that I'd be comfortable with this unless we had responsible principals.
Then comes the problem of the parents !!!!!!!!!!
ILoveTheTruth
:) - I also remember how creative some of us were when we knew a caning was on the way. One boy put a small cushion in his pants, and the sound was so hilarious when the first blow landed, I still laugh when I think about it. The principal then told him to take of his pants and the cushion fell out, hahahaha! Some of us screamed, some cried and the brave ones did not even flinch. Today, I will not hit my children, as a good talking to, using examples and consequences normally do the trick. Children will be children and we must not deny them their childhood.
m1si2zi3nzo4
Posted 323 days agoILoveTheTruth
m1si2zi3nzo4
Posted 323 days ago