You’ll often hear people say, “Today’s kids have no discipline”, and sometimes you can’t help but agree.
A distressing clip that has been shared on social media left South Africans in shock over the current situation in the country’s schools.
In the video, which South African politician and businessman Mmusi Maimane shared, a teacher and a student are seen brawling over a cellphone in a local classroom.
The disturbing clip, which is currently circulating on social media, shows the teacher and student rolling around on the ground, attacking each other.
“We have a serious discipline crisis in our schools. No student should ever lay their hands on a teacher,” Maimane wrote in his post.
“We cannot end up with a country where teachers teach from bulletproof windows.”
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According to an official media statement surrounding the incident, the physical fight took place between a teacher and a Grade 8 learner at HTS Welkom.
“This is deeply concerning, and not only must it be frowned upon, but it must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” said Free State Education MEC, Dr MJ Maboya.
The incident took place on Monday, 2 September 2024 – shortly before the 8th period.
“A video of the incident was captured and it shows a teacher and a learner fighting violently in class scrambling for a mobile phone, after the teacher asked the learner to switch it off as it was disturbing the proceedings in the class.
“When the learner refused to comply, an altercation ensued as the teacher attempted to confiscate the phone. The department has launched an investigation to ascertain the details surrounding this unsavoury incident.
“The department condemns any form of violence in our schools, especially in a classroom and in full view of other learners. Classrooms are an inviolable space for delivering the core business of the department, which is learning and teaching.
“We take this matter seriously. The safety of everyone on the premises of schools remains our utmost priority. Such ill-discipline will not be tolerated. Schools are for development, not for any other self-defeating activities. As such, we are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident, and we will act decisively in remedying and redressing the situation,” said MEC Maboya.
