WHAT IF YOUR CHILD DOESN’T RETURN HOME?

EXPULSION: While it is common for schools to expel students over indiscipline, many cannot face their parents due to fear

By Moses Odongo and Nickson Turyahikayo

SHE wanted to scream but due to shock, Irene Musiimenta went dumb as she stared at the picture of her 17-year-old daughter on the front page of Bukkedde. “I expected her to be at school. What was she doing among kimansulo (nude) dancers?” she asks.

The group was recently arrested by the Police in Kasubi, a city suburb, and among them was Musiimenta’s daughter Sarah Tukahirwa. It is then that Musiimenta found out that Tuhakirwa, an S.3 student, had been expelled from Caltec Academy in Makerere due to indiscipline.

According to her friends, she did not go back home because she feared her parents’ wrath.

While it is common for schools to expel students over indiscipline, many cannot face their parents due to fear. “They could be scared, especially if their parents had sacrificed so much for their education,” explains Mayanja Kajumba, a psychologist at Makerere University.

Kajumba says if a student’s sibling was mistreated at home after being expelled from school, he would rather not go back home. “Part of the reason why parents get mad in such circumstances is because psychologically, they tend to believe their children should always be at the best behaviour. A child could be humble at home, but not at school. So when such a student misbehaves at school and is expelled, they would rather not go back home,” he explains.

But some educators say school authorities are not handling expulsion appropriately.

“Before expelling a student, the school disciplinary committee should call the students’ parents and hand over their child,” says Robert Mwebaze, the headmaster of Boma High School in Mbarara.

Although school rules and regulations vary, the education ministry says schools should not expel a student without notifying their parents or discussing the matter with them.

The parents need to know why their child has been expelled and whether there is a possibility of getting a less severe punishment.

Aggrey Kibenge, the education ministry’s spokesperson, says parents should be given a chance to speak on behalf of their child.

Pro-expulsion
In whichever manner the case is is handled, advocates of expulsion insist it is the only way indiscipline can be curbed.

Ssebbunga Masembe, the Dean of the School of Education at Makerere University, argues that expulsion is a recommended measure for extreme disciplinary cases like strikes, disobedience or abusing school regulations that might put the lives of other students in danger. He says if a student cannot change, after several attempts to correct him, he should be discontinued to protect other students from adopting his manners.

Isaac Budggo, a former headteacher of St. Thaddeus High School, says: “When an expelled student joins another school, he will always be aware of his past deeds is likely to be morally upright.”

Anti-expulsion advocates
Jennifer, a 28-year-old teacher, says: “One girl threw objects at me, threatened me with a knife and tried to punch me, while another boy was always rude to me, pulled down his pants and swore at me.” But the teacher could not take it any longer when another student beat her. The school suspended him for three weeks, and Jennifer says he returned reformed.

Erasmus Twinamusingo, a parent, says expulsion is harsh, irritates parents and impacts on a student’s life. “I almost went crazy and refused my daughter to join any other school.”

According to Dr. Proscovia Ssentamu Namubiru, an expert in curriculum and teaching, expelling a student is tagging one as a bad person in society. It may take them long to reform and could even impact on their learning.

Way forward
In many African countries, before a student is expelled, the disciplinary committee investigates and consults the board or chief educational officer, who makes the final decision.

In other countries, the education board conducts a hearing and decides whether or not to expel a student.

Amos Ruhumuriza, the headteacher of St. Mary’s College Rushoroza, says if the expulsion is discussed and it is evident that the child feels remorse about what they did, or if the punishment is inappropriate, considering the offence, the panel should reduce the punishment to a less severe one.

Fagil Mandy, an education consultant, says expulsion should be the last resort and the right procedure must be followed. He suggests that the education ministry be involved in approving the expulsion.

How to cope
- Do not assume that a parent or teacher will ‘murder’ you. Owning up to your mistakes earns you respect from your parents and would not make them think less of you.

- Mistakes are easily handled if one apologises. Accepting blame and responsibility frees one from guilt. But if it lingers even after one has accepted responsibility of his actions, seek help from family, friends, or a counsellor
- Accept the consequences and your parents’ reactions.


TIPS FOR PARENTS AND SCHOOLS
- Schools should give the expulsion letter to a student’s parents and advise them on what to do
- School disciplinary committees should grade cases that warrant expulsion so that students understand the rules better
- To minimise psychological torture, students who have committed the same offence should also be punished
- Parents should not cry before an expelled student. It instills guilt in them and could take them long to overcome the trauma. The student could also lose the courage to approach a parent in times of need
- Expelled students should not be rushed to a new school. When a student stays at home for a while, he gets time to reflect on why he was expelled and how to avoid it
- Parents should not allow expelled students to look for another school. They could look for one that pays less attention to discipline
- Parents should not threaten or send their child away from home, as it is the only place where one can learn best.

HOW TO IMPLEMENT MENTORING

“Lack of attention from parents and teachers frustrates students. One may resort to indiscipline to fight back, so a teacher should be able to mentor such a student,” says Jane Kakama, the head of the counselling unit at the education ministry.

As experts explain, mentoring is a unique one-on-one learning opportunity where a student gains from the teacher. It is based on the need for people to feel connected, loved and taught by someone they perceive better than them, usually someone older and wiser.

Humphrey Ahimbisibwe, the chairman of Mbarara Headteachers Association, advocates the teacher-student mentoring relationships in every school.

“A mentor can encourage a child to focus on their education. Troubled students, particularly, need to be mentored to avoid psychological problems. Punishments are not necessarily effective when a student has an attitude problem. Issues like violence and aggression are a product of the traumatic environment that some students experience,” he says.

How to implement mentoring:
- The school should attach each student to a teacher, according to Dr. Callistus, a lecturer of psychology at the Makerere University School of Education. This ensures that every student has a teacher to confide in.
- The school can set up a timetable for the teachers to meet and review the progress of every individual in their group. This gives them time to review one’s discipline and academic progress.
- Kihembe Muhiiga, a retired headteacher, says the needs of a student should be considered because not every teacher can counsel.
- Some teachers are not comfortable with being assigned over five students to monitor, so a school should ensure they are not overwhelmed.
- The mentor must analyse the situation of the person he is mentoring and provide the relevant information.
- Ensure that the person being mentored is listened to.
- Have the desire to help the person being mentored.

Compiled by Mathias Safari