Exploring the forms and underlying causes of school-based violence: Implications for school safety and security

Widespread violence and ineffective disciplinary practices have become perennial problems in South African schools. The reasons for the upsurge in school-based violence may be attributed to numerous social ills, such as gender discrimination, gang-related activities, and drug and alcohol abuse. Research reveals that in many cases children are perpetrators of violence, with both, students and teachers becoming victims. The use of weaponry, sexual harassment and bullying to resolve conflict constitute an infringement on teachers’ and students’ bodily and psychological integrity and therefore, a serious infringement on their rights to security. School violence undoubtedly places students and teachers in constant fear, and retards the educational process. Using secondary data, this paper examines the different forms and causes of school-based violence, and its implications for school safety and security. It is in the best interest that schools create order, lawfulness and protection by applying the zero tolerance approach to serious learner misconduct.