The Department of Basic Education has cautioned schools about the use of initiation practices.
The Department of Basic Education said in a statement on Friday that “these are often violent and humiliating for learners and constitute a form of abuse.”
Department spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, said: “initiation is prohibited in our schools and any learner who is subjected to such practices is encouraged to report it to their parents immediately.”
“Parents should in turn immediately take it up with the principal of the school and if need be the district education office,” he said.
“Initiation practices breed a culture of violence. This is not welcome in the schooling environment and may cause learners who feel intimidated and humiliated to act out violently in retaliation,” Mhlanga said.
He said, “schools need to be peaceful and safe spaces that are welcoming and conducive to impactful learning, not a place of fear.”
“As the Department of Basic Education we endeavour to holistically educate our learners to be productive members of society, this cannot be done in an environment that promotes violence, intimidation and humiliation,” Mhlanga said.
