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'School should be a safe place'
25/04/2007 08:52 - (SA)
Riette Olivier, Die Burger
Mount Frere - A teacher at a primary school died in a pool of blood in front of her Grade 2-pupils after she was shot three times in her classroom.
A man with a balaclava apparently stormed into the classroom of Fundiswa Sonqishe, 30, a Grade 2 teacher at the Niyona school about 11:00. He shot her once in the head and twice in the neck.
The man apparently arrived at school and enquired at reception where her classroom was.
According to police spokesperson captain Namukulungisa Jozana, the man shot the teacher without saying a word. He ran away afterwards.
The children cried uncontrollably.
Violence in schools
Apparently Sonqishe lay in a large pool of blood in the front of the classroom while teachers stood around in disbelief, while the pupils, most of them eight years old, were still inside the classroom.
Jozana could not say whether the pupils were later removed from the classroom or how long Sonqishe's body lay there.
Johnny Makgato, MEC for education in the Eastern Cape, expressed his condolences with Sonqishe's family.
He stressed how important it was for the education department's security programme for schools to be implemented speedily.
"Hopefully the programme, with the co-operation of the community, will make an end to violence at schools," he said.
The ANC Youth League said there was a sharp increase in such incidents at school.
"Drastic steps should be taken to ensure that schools once again become safe for pupils and teachers."
Willie Pienaar, an education expert from Uitenhage, said the shooting was a shock for the pupils as it had happened to their teacher at school.
"The incident is shocking, no matter where it happens.
"But a school is supposed to be a safe place for children, and especially for such young children a teacher is almost like a substitute parent," said Pienaar.
He believed children who witnessed such an attack usually afterwards suffered from post-traumatic stress. The symptoms were increased anxiety levels, sleep disturbances, a decline in academic achievement, a lack of concentration and either severe depression or severe aggression.
"It is extremely important that the children's parents spend as much time as possible with them after such an incident. Usually only the parents' physical presence puts the children at ease," he said. He said it was important for the children to talk about the incident or to draw a picture of it.
He was of the opinion that 75% of all children could work through such an incident with their parents' support. If not, professional counselling would be necessary.
The education department organised counselling for the teachers and pupils, as well as Sonqishe's family.
The motive for the murder was unknown. The police were investigating the case.
- Die Burger
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