Gangsterism and a Safe Schooling Environment: Assessing The Perspectives of Learners in South Africa

This qualitative interpretivist research paper assessed the perspectives of learners in the Free State province regarding the impact of gangsterism and a safe schooling environment in South African public schools. The formation and association of gangsterism in schools and misuse of alcohol, narcotics, and other intoxicants exacerbate most violent incidents in schools. Due to this, learners lose their control, become unruly, and are unable to focus or work with teachers and other learners as a result, teachers and learners are regularly the targets of violent attacks using the weapons, which frequently result in tragic fatalities. This study employed Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory as a research framework, which uses an ecology model where humans are placed inside interactive systems and characterises the traits that influence protection and risk factors that can either raise or lower the likelihood of aggression and violent exposure. In-depth interviews were conveniently employed to address the following questions: What are the perspectives of learners on school safety in the school context? To what extent does gangsterism in school threaten the safety of learners in schools? Data was analysed thematically. The results showed that gangsterism still makes schools dangerous places for many learners to learn, which impairs their wellbeing over the long run. This study recommends the establishment of school safety policies which prohibit gang activities and encourage greater community participation, collaboration, and ownership of safety issues at nearby schools. The study contributes to a debate on the safety of learners and their well-being in schools amid the alarming increase in violence in schools. Keywords: Bullying, Learner, Gangsterism, Violence, School, Well-Being