“Let there be Peace”: An Exploratory Study of Peace Education as a Strategy to Combating School-Based Violence in South African Secondary Schools

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to discuss issues of school-based violence and how some secondary schools have been able to achieve relative peace. Framed by the Integrative Peace Theory, the study provided answers to three research questions. The qualitative research design was employed, and data was collected with semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Participants were comprised of learners, teachers, principals, and a project manager of a non-governmental organization. A thematic content analysis with an iterative process was employed for analysis of data collected. Findings revealed that there is a reduction in reported cases of school violence and three basic strategies were found to be employed by schools to ensure relative peace and a reduction in school-based violence. Time constraints and societal influence were found to be the potential barriers for effective peace education and sustenance of peace in secondary schools. Based on the findings, appropriate recommendations were offered.

KEYWORDS:

• School-based violence
• peace education
• peace club
• peer mediation
• anger management

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ntokozo Dennis Ndwandwe

Ntokozo D. Ndwandwe PhD is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundation, in the College of Education at the University of South Africa. His research interest is peace education, conflict resolution education, and parental involvement in education. Other research areas include social climate and relations in schools, values education, and conflict resolution within educational institutions.

Olufemi Timothy Adigun

Olufemi Timothy Adigun PhD is an Academic Associate (Research Fellow) at the Open and Distance Education Research Unit, College of Education, University of South Africa, South Africa. His current research is on the implication of technology in inclusive education, communication, and psychosocial dynamics as it may relate to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. Other research areas include the analysis of the implications of psychotherapeutic techniques on the learning outcomes of deaf learners.