Understanding the determinants and preventative strategies for high school violence in South Africa: The stakeholders’ targeted model

Abstract

School violence is a serious public health issue in South Africa. Akinsola and Ramakuela (2009) conducted a study on teachers’ perceived prevalence, determinants and preventive strategies for violence-related behaviours among South African high school children in rural Vhembe district. Based on the results of this study, a model was developed. One of the assumptions underlying this model is that any form of school violence is not just a school’s problem. It involves schools, families and the communities. Hence the objective of developing this model is to provide a broad-based explanation about the determinants of violence in schools and the preventive measures. The diagram depicting the model is a rectangle which consists of two disproportional layers. The narrow external layer presents the main theme being addressed, i.e. school violence in South Africa and the various forms of violent behaviour being perpetuated by the students. The second layer presents the two sub-themes, the determinants and preventive measures. The inner layer is divided into two parts which show the relationship between the determinants and preventive measures. This analysis shows that since the determinants of school violence in South Africa are multi-faceted, the strategies to address the problem must also be designed and implemented at variety of levels.

Key words: Determinants, preventive strategies, violence, stakeholders’  targeted model.