School governing bodies need to be more proactive: foundation
The Governing Body Foundation says it is not surprised by incidents of violence in and around schools in the country over the past fortnight.
The organisation says principals have been informing their governing bodies of increasing levels of disrespect and lawlessness in their schools.
CEO, Dr Anthea Ceresto, says this disrespect is being demonstrated at a younger and younger age.
She says the sad reality is that what happens in schools is often a reflection of society.
"Governing bodies need to be more proactive in what they do - for example, they need to harness parents and parent committees and structures to work both with children in terms of applying the school code of conduct and to do that consistently. [This is] not to the extent of expelling or suspending but in fact, examining the root causes of the conduct is," Ceresto said.
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The Governing Body Foundation - which was founded in 1997 and represents some 700 schools across the country - has also responded to a suggestion by one of the unions - that teachers should carry guns in schools.
The call was made by the Educators Union of South Africa - following last week's murder of primary school teacher - Siboniso Nyawose - at the school he worked at in Folweni - south of Durban.
Ceresto says the foundation is strongly opposed to this as it would put lives in danger.
"We know that people who carry guns become targets. We also know that innocent bystanders get shot. You couldn't train all teachers in effective use of weapons. It's a far-fetched idea," Ceresto said.
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