The troubling rise of misconduct in schools

THE Department of Basic Education has had a flurry of urgencies, which all relate to the overall development of learners at South African schools.

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The recent incidents of school violence, crimes, sexual misconduct and deviance during schooling hours have also become the central focus of the department, and they have been proactive in conducting continual investigations.

The department has had to now shift focus from resource, infrastructural, and educational requisites and distribution to continual allegations of misconduct by educators who have also become perpetrators of these offences.

Many individuals who opt to become teachers do not realise that they are ultimately responsible for the emotional, psychological and physical well-being of the learners for the duration of the school day.

Teachers should understand that their role can be termed as the school parent and that parents entrust teachers to care for their children appropriately during the school day.

Children need to be in a safe space during the day, which allows them to grow intellectually, physically and emotionally.

The idea is that South Africans should be developed into well-rounded individuals.

Teachers are not only responsible for educational learning outcomes, but for overall development, including social and communication skills, a child's worldview, their ability to differentiate from fiction to reality, and their overall perception of the functioning of societies and appropriate human behaviour.

In many instances, the teachers fill the role of a mentor for the learner and become a central influence in their life.