Schools need support structures: DA

2012-05-14 14:23

Johannesburg - Gauteng schools need to put support structures in place to support troubled pupils and reduce expulsions, the DA said on Monday.

"It concerns me that the necessary preventative support structures in schools aimed at assisting troubled learners have not been put in place," Democratic Alliance MPL Khume Ramulifho said in a statement.

He said 74 children were expelled from Gauteng schools in 2011, up from 11 in 2010. So far this year, 27 had been expelled.

Ramulifho said schools needed to identify pupils in need of help before their behaviour deteriorated.

"Together with social support structures schools need to prevent this sort of behaviour before it is too late."

In a written reply to a DA question in the Gauteng legislature, the province's Education MEC Barbara Creecy said reasons for expulsions included possession, and use of, illegal substances, possession of dangerous weapons, assault, sexual assault, theft, disruptive behaviour, malicious damage to property, and bullying.

She said no support was given before an expulsion because, in terms of legislation, a child must be found guilty of misconduct before appropriate support and punitive measures could be instituted.

"In all cases of expulsion a disciplinary transfer to another school was instituted and relevant support programmes were put in place by the district education support services unit," said Creecy.

"The support programmes consist of diversion programmes for substance abuse, anger management, behavioural change and intervention programmes on life skills."

- SAPA