Discipline and disciplinary measures in the Free State township schools: unresolved problems

Abstract

English: This article is based on a study of discipline and disciplinary measures in township schools. It is widely acknowledged that discipline is essential for creating a positive school climate conducive to sound academic performance. Numerous township schools are experiencing increasing incidents of poor discipline which impact negatively on their students’ academic performance. A survey conducted among teachers imputes the escalation of learner misbehaviour to the abolition of corporal punishment. The sample for this study was randomly selected from teachers of township primary and secondary schools and the study employed a quantitative research method. The method comprised a questionnaire used to gather data which were computer-analysed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Primer Version 12. The study concludes with recommendations to address these topical issues in South Africa.

Afrikaans: Hierdie artikel is gebaseer op ’n studie van dissipline en dissiplinêre maatreëls in townshipskole. Dit word algemeen aanvaar dat dissipline noodsaaklik is vir die skepping van ’n positiewe skoolklimaat om goeie akademiese prestasies te verseker. Baie towshipskole ervaar toenemende gevalle van swak dissipline wat akademiese prestasie negatief beïnvloed. ’n Opname onder onderwysers wyt die skuld vir die toename in swak dissipline aan die afskaffing van lyfstraf. Die steekproef vir hierdie studie van laer- en hoërskoolonderwysers is in townshipskole geneem en die studie het ’n kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetode gebruik. ’n Vraelys is gebruik om data te versamel, wat met ’n rekenaar ontleed is deur gebruik te maak van die Statistical Package for Social Sciences Primer Version 12. Die studie sluit af met aanbevelings om hierdie aktuele vraagstukke in Suid-Afrika aan te spreek.