The Influence of Ndebele Cultural Practices on School Discipline in Two Secondary Schools in Mpumalanga Province; South Africa

Abstract

There is no much research on how Ndebele cultural practices influences school discipline .This study investigated the influence of Ndebele cultural practices on school discipline.. Qualitative data were collected where two principals and two teachers from two rural secondary schools were interviewed and submitted written lived stories Partipants’ narratives revealed that the two sample secondary schools were characterized by disciplinary problems ranging from absenteeism, late coming, learners especially boys not doing their home works, disrespectful and bullyiness. The findings of the study further indicated that Ndebele cultural practices rendered the two sample schools dysfunctional as results which affected learner performance. It has become clear, as set out in this paper, that the school discipline in a way may be influenced by cultural practices that are prevalent in Ndebele communities of the two rural secondary schools in the study. The study recommended strategies to ensure that Ndebele cultural practices contribute towards better functioning schools with less disciplinary problem.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n11p376