Approach to stop bullying vital for education to prosper

THE comment by Dr Bhekithemba Dube in the Daily News: “Is the school curriculum letting us down in SA?” refers.

The death of Lufuno Mavhunga is a wake up call. Bullying is escalating at an alarming rate, resulting in unhappy people. Most of them experience anxiety, fear, depression, and many other symptoms. Sometimes, in the midst of bullying, it has a lasting impact on its victim. Parents are the ones who absorb the traumatic effect on the children.

It is also disturbing that pupils record bullying on their cellphones and distribute it to other school children. Where are the teachers? What sort of upbringing and schooling are these youngsters having? This type of detestable behaviour should be considered as a crime, and it is also an indictment to our society. I would like to encourage the idea that, if any individual is bullied, criminal charges must be laid against those responsible. The courts must play their part and take a tough stance against pupils accused of assaulting fellow pupils.

Expulsion must be considered and a zero tolerance policy towards any forms of violence must be taken. The concern is that, given the extent of bullying, we could find ourselves emptying our schools – by expelling every pupil found guilty of bullying. Schools must always be a safe haven for our children and violence must be eradicated. The values of our forefathers, sadly, are no more. How times have changed. It is time for parents to actively involve themselves in understanding and curbing the dangers of bullying.

Life skills training at schools is indeed what is needed. There have to be strategies in place to eliminate bullying from schools. We must never allow schools to be a breeding ground for violence – if we do we will turn society into a violent community.

DHAYALAN MOODLEY I Mobeni Heights