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

Abstract

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 townshipprimary 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.