AS the second quarter of the school calendar proceeds, one could not help but take a step back and look at the horrific incidents which occurred at different schools around Mzansi.
The 2024 school calendar opened shockingly as more blood was shed at most of the country's schools.
What could have happened?
That’s one question on communities’ and parents’ minds when they gauge the safety of their children at schools. Although schools are regarded as safe havens for kids, they have now turned into deadly dungeons.
Deadly weapons are being confiscated daily at schools, but that does not seem to lower the bloodbath that's taking place there.
Teachers themselves are not even safe from the violence inflicted by pupils.
On 2 March, Daily Sun published a story about a grade 10 pupil at Photani Secondary School in Malamulele, Limpopo, who was stabbed to death on Thursday, 29 February. Reports say a fight broke out between the 15-year-old boy and the suspect during a cultural event hosted by one of the secondary schools in the village.
In a different report, pupils from Kgothalang Secondary in Bekkersdal, Gauteng, said they carry knives and other sharp objects for self-protection. Such gangster fights at the school have parents and teachers worried as the violence persists.
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In another incident, a grade 6 pupil (13) from Primrose Primary School in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, was charged with attempted murder, while the father was charged with negligence of a firearm.
This was after the pupil brought his father’s gun to school and shot a teacher. The incident was reported on 23 February.
The list of such incidents goes on, and pupils have turned schools into war zones. But one would wonder what has become of schools. What could be the cause of such behaviour by pupils?
Well, according to research conducted by the South African Journal of Education titled The nature, causes and effects of school violence in South African high schools vol 33 published in January 2023, the causes of school violence are being brewed by the violence/crime in the community.
This includes indiscipline, intolerance, easy access to school premises, unemployment, poverty, lack of recreational facilities and overcrowding as the leading ones.
The study indicated that violence in communities is widespread and that during their study, more than 72 (91%) of the respondents reported that violence in their communities contributed to school violence.
This is one of the concerning factors, and indeed, communities contribute to the ill-discipline of the youth and other frustrations such as unemployment by guardians and lack of recreational facilities.
This gives kids no choice but to choose street life.
