adminOFFICER Commanding Harare Province, Commissioner Wonder Tembo’s warning against bullying in schools is a very important message.
It comes at a time when school bullies have turned some learning institutions into war zones.
Commissioner Tembo urged children to report any instances of physical, mental and sexual abuse.
He made this call during the 33rd anniversary of Pinewood Junior and High Schools last Friday.
The Commissioner outlined ways to deal with drug abuse, which is now prevalent, in most schools.
And, having this important message coming from a top cop, shows that our police force is committed towards bringing sanity in our schools.
The learning environment should not be used as a breeding ground for bullies, sexual harassment and drug abuse.
Every child has the right to conduct lessons in a conducive environment without the fear of being victimised.
This can only be attained when our school authorities are firm and resolute to weed out the bad apples, who come in the form of bullies. In fact, the learning environment should be used as a sanctuary and bridge for youngsters chasing their dreams.
Young learners should not be harassed by those who don’t have focus.
The school bullies should be whipped into line to ensure that other students’ vision is not blighted.
Bullying has serious consequences if not addressed at an early stage.
It destroys the students’ confidence, vision and self-esteem, which can take years to be restored.
In the worst case scenarios of bullying, we have read cases of students, who have committed suicide, after failing to handle this humiliation and attack.
Bullies in schools should be flushed out and we should ensure that we all play a part in making the school environment a safe place to be.
As we indicated in previous cases of bullying, children, who are of a school-going age, should be taught to speak out against bullying.
This culture should start at the household level.
It will help them to be able to handle pressure when they meet such cases.
Guardians or parents should spend a lot of their time with children to understand their problems.
True to Commissioner Tembo’s observation, parents should also desist from domestic violence and be exemplary in life.
For the sake of our children, we should be peace loving and God-fearing parents all the time.
This will definitely help our children to copy the good things we do in life.
Research has also shown that most school bullies inherit this culture from their backgrounds.
As such, parents need to lead by example to avoid ruining the future of their children.
Violence should be condemned at all cost while perpetrators should pay for their sins.
At school level, children should learn in a conducive and healthy environment without any fear of bullying, which is prevalent at most learning institutions.
Bullies should never be allowed anywhere near a school and we should all make it loud and clear that this is something that is unacceptable.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter