EDITOR’S NOTE

HOW is it possible that the Education Department in KwaZuluNatal has only expelled four pupils for misconduct in more than two years?

In that time, this newspaper has reported on many instances of misconduct by pupils involving deadly violence on one another and on their teachers.

We must assume, based on MEC Mthandeni Dlungwana’s statement yesterday, that they either got off with a slap on the wrist or escaped sanction altogether.

Naturally teachers and their unions were outraged at the revelation, as are we.

As they point out, the department is quick to take action against teachers accused of misconduct. Why can the same alacrity not be applied to get rid of recalcitrant pupils?

Several incidents in this province and elsewhere in the country have shown that teachers do at times work in life-threatening environments.

In many instances, this is where pupils in the higher grades are far older than their peers, and are sometimes as old as newly-qualified teachers.

They are, to all intents and purposes, adults.

In a sticky situation, teachers and younger pupils are at great risk of injury, or worse.

Just as we demand harsh sentences for convicted criminals to deter other would-be criminals, so should “hooligan” pupils be made an example of, instead of being treated with kid gloves.