FOR almost seven years, Enhlanhleni High school in the Underberg has expelled both students who fall pregnant and their partners from the school. When Ruth Mkhize, a Catholic nun, became principal in 1993 she introduced this regulation ”to curb student pregnancy”. Since then more than 20 students have lost their right to education. Enhlanhleni High […]
THE image of schools making their own decisions, raising their own funds, and functioning as thriving community centres is a wonderful one. But how real is it? Many schools have been able to grab the reins of their new-found freedom granted by democracy and have soared to greater heights. They have managed to raise funds […]
WHY do you think education about HIV and Aids is so often linked with education about alcohol and drugs? Is it because adults want to lecture you against relaxing and having fun? Is it because they’re afraid to allow teenagers to experiment? Both these things may be true for some, but there is a more […]
AS the world prepares to celebrate International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Idada), drug lords from around the globe are asserting an increasingly stronger hold on South Africa. As far as the South African Narcotics Bureau (Sanab) Superintendent Andre Brits knows though, there will be no special local celebrations for Idada this year. […]
MELINDA FERGUSON interviewed Alex Hamlyn, head of substance abuse treatment and a drug counsellor at Houghton House HAMLYN defines addiction as an illness or disease, identified by a loss of control over the amount of drugs used. The individual’s continued use of the substance, despite negative consequences, further identifies the illness. ”The age of onset […]
MELINDA FERGUSON interviewed four teenagers, three of whom share their experiences of drug addiction, and all who share their attitudes to drugs, life and the future Tupak (16) A pupil at a technical college in Johannesburg, Tupak is a cool-looking dude who is ”addicted to everything”. He has dreadlocks and slouches around in somewhat dirty […]
There are many useful Internet sites devoted to professional development ALL over the world teachers are using the Internet to help each other, by posting lesson plans and advice totally free of charge. Here are some of the most popular websites dedicated to teaching and teachers. Aimed at primary school teachers, TeachNet is a treasure […]
Communication between schools and libraries is a massive stumbling block. ”GO get information from the library” is a phrase students commonly hear from their teachers. ”And that,” says Nohra Moerat, ”is usually the end of the story, as far as the teacher is concerned.” Moerat is a librarian who has recently been appointed media liaison […]
Important information gathering skills can be learnt outside school THE Valhalla Park public library near Elsies River in the Cape Flats serves an estimated 16 000 people. Like many libraries in disadvantaged areas, it is crammed with schoolchildren in the afternoons, ranging from the smallest grade ones to the largest and most threatening kind of […]
The safe schools program aims to reclaim schools from gangsters IN 1997, a standard 8 pupil named Howard McKenzie become the 20th victim of a bitter gang war in Gugulethu. Howard was shot dead at school, in his classroom. The school violence impacted heavily upon Eugene Daniels, circuit manager for Howard’s school at the time. […]