Decrying violence in South African schools and institutions of higher learning

Abstract

In recent years, the South African Departments of Basic and Higher Education have been besieged by shocking forms of physical, verbal (including hate speech), psychological, sexual and socioeconomic violence. Although this has been a worrisome phenomenon dating back to time immemorial, of late, violence is increasing at a very concerning and alarming level. The profusion of violence serves as an indictment to various stakeholders, including the current government, which seems to have done very little, if anything, to mitigate the issue. Several media houses and numerous media platforms have tracked violence that has advanced to gruesome killings of learners and teachers alike at learning institutions on a daily basis. Very often, societies wake up to new and traumatising experiences that have since endorsed schools and higher education institutions as war zones where bloodbaths have become commonplace. The study sought to highlight the extent to which violence has ravaged schools, colleges and universities. The study drew its data from a qualitative content analysis of online newspaper articles and social media news. After tracing different versions of physical and sexual forms of violence experienced at the aforementioned institutions, the study established that institutions are experiencing a deluge of violent incidents. Several institutions have lost educators, principals, support staff and students through violent death. The study further suggests ways in which violence could be mitigated at learning institutions. Active stakeholder involvement, reskilling of teachers in handling 21st-century learners/students and the introduction of modules on teachers' soft skills in dealing with recalcitrant learners are some of the recommendations that result from the findings of this study.