Addressing The High Prevalence Of Violence And Suicides In South African Schools

It's no secret that South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world. Furthermore, school violence has increased, as has suicidal behaviour among pupils. The Gauteng Department of Education (DOE) intends to deploy counsellors and social workers to approximately 1,200 schools as part of an endeavour to combat the province's high prevalence of pupil suicide.

The high suicide rate and violence among schoolchildren raises the question of what the root cause of these issues is. Unfortunately, several factors are at play. The DOE said it reached out to the Gauteng Department of Health to undertake a mortality analysis on cases of suicide to understand the causes and drivers of these incidents. The Health Department has accepted the task and is currently conducting the assessments.

The first factor influencing school-based violence is poverty. The majority of South African children are raised in townships and villages with little to no basic amenities. The second aspect to consider is family dynamics. About 60% of South African children are raised by single mothers. The high divorce rate exacerbates the situation. Abuse, trauma, and neglect are the third factors. A substantial number of children are subject to abuse at the hands of family members. When trauma is untreated, children grow up with bitterness and emotional problems. Bullying at school is the fourth component. Bullied children who receive no support turn to violence and gangsterism. Mental illness is the fifth aspect to consider. Research shows that adolescents suffer from depression, anxiety, substance abuse and eating disorders. Because these teenagers do not have access to professional help, they don’t know how to cope with or manage their emotions. Anger issues are the sixth factor. Recently, one of our teenage students was suspended from school for fighting. When questioned why he was fighting, he stated that the other student had cursed his parents and that he would not tolerate it. 

The availability of firearms is another factor. Because of the widespread culture of violence, criminals raid schools and kill and rape teachers and students in the process. Tragically, children, particularly teenage boys, do not know how to resolve conflicts amicably. Because violence is not dealt with adequately across the country, they are prone to resorting to violence. It's almost as if violence has become normalised because no active measures to punish perpetrators have been implemented. Moreover, the absence of fathers in the household is also a contributing factor to school violence. Both parents must be actively involved in their children's upbringing.

To combat violence and suicidal behaviour in schools, the following initiatives should be implemented:

• Every school in South Africa should have a minimum of two psychologists and two social workers.

• Mental illness needs to be treated effectively and with seriousness.

• Bullying should not be tolerated, and those culpable should be punished accordingly.

• Victims of abuse, sexual assault, or harassment should be treated immediately.

• Children must be taught how to manage their emotions. A formal educational programme needs to be established.

• Corruption among management should be reported and punished swiftly.

• Teachers need to invest in their students wellbeing. When something is wrong with a learner, immediate action needs to be taken.

• Surveillance cameras and monitoring systems should be installed at each entrance to identify any weapons or sharp objects disguised in school backpacks.

• Police officers should deliver presentations at schools to teach students about the consequences of violence and criminality.

• A culture of unity, transparency, and accountability needs to be fostered in schools among students and teachers.

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