“It Leads to a Bleak Future”: Exploring the Effects of School-Based Violence on Learners and Educators in South Africa

Violence in schools is an unfortunate reality that is facing not only South Africa but all countries across the globe. The prevalence, frequency and intensity of violence are comprehensively documented, and there is enough evidence to demonstrate that school-based violence is a major problem in South African schools. What is still not clear are the effects of this violence on learners and educators. As such, the study aimed to explore the effects of school-based violence on learners and educators in South Africa. It is important to fully understand the effects of this phenomenon to devise appropriate strategies for addressing it. Based on a qualitative study conducted at nine high schools in South Africa, data were collected from 47 learners and 30 educators using focus group discussions and analysed using thematic analysis. Measures were implemented to ensure the quality of the data. The study received ethical clearance and adhered to all ethical considerations. The findings indicate that violence has detrimental effects on the victim, the perpetrator, the bystander, the educators, and the teaching and learning environment. Learners who experience bullying reported heightened levels of fear, frustration, and emotional distress, which contribute to negative perceptions of schooling and diminished academic performance. Collectively, these factors shape an overall adverse school experience. The study also found that exposure to school violence undermines educators’ self-confidence and erodes their sense of professional dignity. Furthermore, essential instructional time is lost as teachers are compelled to manage disruptive and violent behaviour, limiting opportunities for effective teaching and learning. The paper concludes that the short-term and long-term effects of school-based violence call for strategies and programmes to be put in place to address the problem of school-based violence.