The challenges experienced by educators in addressing violence in schools: a social work perspective

Abstract

Violence in schools is becoming prevalent. Violence within schools is not a new social problem but is emerging as a cause for sincere concern due to the recent spate of attacks within South African schools that have claimed the lives of both pupils and educators. These attacks indicate that school violence has now moved beyond mere bullying to become a form of victimisation with a more serious and violent nature. The purpose of this study was to develop an in-depth understanding of the challenges experienced by educators in addressing violence in schools. This study applied a qualitative research approach to explore, describe, and contextualise the challenges educators encounter in addressing violence in schools. Only educators from four schools in Soweto (Braamfischerville) participated in the study. The participants were selected by employing purposive sampling. The data collection method used was semi-structured interviews, eased by open-ended questions and probing skills where the participants were not limited in providing answers. Data was analysed with Tesch’s eight steps and ethical concerns were considered. The findings highlight that violence in schools is increasing daily without the resources and effective disciplinary measures to address the challenges of violence in schools. The findings also highlighted that social workers are needed in schools to help educators address the challenges of violence. Lastly, the findings indicated that having social workers in schools will help to eradicate the challenges of violence in schools, because social workers have better skills and are well-trained to help people and communities to work through the challenges they face in everyday life, such as violence in schools. Little has been documented about the social support services offered to the schools to deal with the violence.

Dintwa (megabaru le dikgaruru) ka gara dikolo le ditikologo tša tšona di fetoga setlwaedi. Dintwa (megabaru) ka gare ga dikolo ga se bothata bjo boswa bja kgokaganyo efela bo tšwela pele go hlola mahloko go ya ka di poelo/ ditsebišo tša dihlaselo ka gare ga dikolo tša Afrika Borwa tšeo di tšerego maphelo a baithuti le barutiši. Dihlaselo tše di laetša gore dintwa (megabaru le digaruru) dikolong di feteletxe go feta le bongwete goba mokgwa wa go tlaitŠwa le bontŠi bja maikemišetšo ga dintwa (megabaru le digaruru) ka hlago. Mohola wa dithuto tŠe ebe e le go godiŠa kweŠiŠo ya maleba ka ga mathata a o barutiši ba kopanago le gona go lwantŠhana/ go fediša dintwa (megabaru le digaruru) ka dikolong. Dithuto tŠe di diriŠitŠe mokgwa wa qualitative go nyakiŠiŠa, gohlaloŠa, le go kgonthiŠiŠa ka a mathata ao barutuŠi ba kopanago le gona go lwantŠheng/ go fediŠeng ga dintwa (megabaru le digaruru) ka gare ga dikolo. Ke barutiŠi ba dikolong tŠa Soweto (Bramfischerville) fela bao ba tŠerego karolo dithutong tŠe. Ba tŠea karolo ba kgethilwe ka mokgwa wa go ithaopa go ya ka dinyakwa tŠa monyakiŠiŠi. Mokgwa wa o goboketŠa tshedimoso ebe e le wa go bulega le go dumelela dikgopolo tŠe diswa nakong ya polediŠano, di dirilwe bofefo ke dipotŠiŠo tŠeo di bego di bulegile le dinyakiŠiŠo tŠa botsebi, moo ba tŠea karolo ba bego ba sa fokoletŠwe gofana ka di karabo. DigobokeletŠwa di hlophollotŠwe ka di karolwana tŠe seswai tŠa Tesch. Melao ya maleba ka moka e latetŠwe. Dinyakišišo di laetša gore dintwa, megabaru le di garuru ditšwela pele o golela godimo ka dikolong, ka ge o hlokagala mehwa le di dirišwa tša go galema le go lwantšha bothata bjo bja dintwa ka dikolong. Dinyakišišo di laeditše gape gore o nyakega badirela leago ka dikolong go thuša barutiši go lwantšha, dintwa, megabaru le digaruru ka dikolong. Bofelong dinyakišišo di laeditše gore goba le badirela leago dikolong o tla thuša go lwantšhana le go fediša dintwa, megabaru le digaruru ka dikolong ka ge badirela leago ba ena le bokgoni le maitemogelo a go thuša batho le badudi go lwantšha mathata ao ba itemogelago gona letšatši ka letšatši mo maphelong a bona, bjalo ka dintwa, mekgabaru le digaruru dikolong. Bonyane bo gobokeditšwe ka ga kgokaganyo ya hloleletšo ya di dirišwa tšeo di abelwago dikolong tšeo di lwantšhanago le dintwa (megabaru le digaruru).