Ouerbetrokkenheid en beheersing van leerderwangedrag in Noord-Kaapse skole : 'n Onderwysregtelike perspektief

Abstract

Learner misconduct is one of the most important phenomena in South African schools and in rest of the world that impedes teaching and learning. It is important that all stakeholders like the Department of Education, teachers, parents and learners should be involved in solving learner misconduct challenges. This study focus on the involvement of parents in assisting teachers with their educative task in reducing learner misconduct. The aim of the study was to determine the real reasons why parents are not involved in the disciplining and education of their children. The role of the school governing body in reducing learner misconduct was also investigated. The research is part of the study field, Education Law, and the role of parents as primary educators was investigated from an Education law perspective. A qualitative study was undertaken to determine the perceptions, believes and opinions of teachers and parents in their respective school communities. One prominent finding is that there are different factors that play a role in the permissiveness and apathy of parents with regard to the upbringing of their children. Another finding was that some of the parents are ignorant of the role that they should play in the education of their children and have insufficient knowledge of the Constitution and Education legislation, especially with regards to parental corporal punishment. Based on these findings it is suggested that parents should receive training by means of a parent-child course in order that parents may be able to discipline their children. In addition, it is suggested that the South African Schools Act should be amended to enable school governing bodies to compel parents to attend such a training course will their ill-disciplined children.