INTRODUCTION

The school Disciplinary Committee, hereafter referred to as the S.D.C. comprises of five (5) teachers; an elected teacher who shall be the chairperson, the assistant teacher who shall be the secretary and the other three(3) S,D.C. member. The duty of the S.D.C. is to device measures that will help the students to avoid and shun any engagement whatsoever cum  activities that tantamount to a breach of discipline. That is the S.D.C. In collaboration with the entire member of staff, and class teachers specifically, shall execute orientations and guidance programmes, at least quarterly, with the members of the students’ body in order to create a common understanding with the students to help them (students) to wean themselves from any breach of discipline committed. The S.D.C will not be a body whose duty will only be to execute punishment when the breach of discipline is committed. It is upon it to enhance good behaviour patterns. However, it is also incumbent upon the S.D.C. to execute disciplinary procedures on the students that may engage themselves in any kind of behaviour that is contrary to the provisions of the General Regulations of the School.

SCHOOL RULES AND REGULATIONS

  • Strict regulatory implicit obedience, to constituted, politeness and courtesy in speech and conduct, cleanliness of dress and person are expected of each student. Hence irregular attendance, habitual idleness, unsatisfactory application to studies, disobedience, objectable moral influence and unsatisfactory conduct in and out of school may justify suspension of a student.
  • On school days and on all school functions, each student must wear a proper school uniform. The shirt should be tucked inside the trousers. No student may come to school without wearing a proper school uniform. If for some reason a student does not have a proper school uniform, he/she must bring a note of excuse from the parent/guardian and report at the office before reporting to class.
  • A student of this school is not expected to take part in political activities.
  • All students must take care of the school properties. Those who damage or destroy a school property will be heavily fined.
  • Students must take care of their own belongings. If possible, such belongings should be marked with the owners name and class. It is not advisable for students to have money or any other valuable items in class. The school will not be held responsible for the damage or loss of such items.
  • No cell phones are allowed except as may be stipulated by constituted authority.
  • Girls should not paint their nails or use make-up.
  • Students must respect and be loyal to the school, teacher(s), students’ representative councilors (SRCs) and fellow students.

The following are considered serious offences and the culprits will be suspended or dismissed:

  • Willful destruction of property
  • Irregularities in tests and examinations
  • Truancy
  • Possession of dangerous weapons and drugs of abuse such as tobacco and alcohol
  •  Smoking
  • Graffiti and littering
  • Stealing, fighting and intimidating others
  • Leaving the school without permission
  • Disobedience
  • Not speaking English while on school premises despite repeated warnings
  • Taking part in all forms of games where one or a group of students is likely to be inflicted to severe pain or bodily harm.

 

  • Parents are expected to do their part in enforcing regularity and discipline in their child/children. They should make sure that their children do their home works daily. They should ensure that their child/children devote about 2-3 hours of each day to his/her or their studies.
  • Teachers send letters/notes to the parents for various reasons. Parents are urged to respond to such notes/letters accordingly.
  • Progress reports are issued after each terminal examination. Parent’s/guardian’s kind perusal is requested before signing.
  • No leave of absence is granted to students except on previous written note from their parent or guardian for cases not exceeding two days. In case of illness, students must bring a medical certificate/report/note stating as such when they return to school explaining the reason for the absence.
  • No student who has been absent from school or is late for classes will be admitted to class without the class teacher’s or principal’s permission.

GROUND RULES FOR THE S.D.C

  • The S.D.C. should comply with The Educational Act of Lesotho.
  • The S.D.C. Is subject to the General Rules and Regulation of the school, that is any decision and/or recommendation made by S.D.C. shall be in line with the provision of the school Rules and Regulations.
  • The S.D.C. should work hand in hand with other members of the staff.
  • The Central Administration of the school has the power to overrule the decision and/or recommendation made by the S.D.C. on disciplinary procedures. Notwithstanding, to overrule shall be due to inevitable reasons.
  • It is incumbent upon the S.D.C. in direct, collaborations with other members of staff, to enhance and uphold discipline among the students.
  • It is incumbent upon the S.D.C. to uphold the General Rules and Regulations of the school, inter alia, Regulations one (1), four (4), eight (8) and nine (9)
  • In case of misbehavior by the students, the S.D.C. shall investigate the matter for one (1) day minimum and two (2) days maximum.
  • Subject to the outcome of the investigations above, the S.D.C, will recommend the correction suitable for the perpetrators in consideration of the weight of breach of discipline.
  • The S.D.C. should include the Central Administration only when necessary. Otherwise the S.D.C. is liable to making recommendations to the Central Administration to the outcome of the investigations.
  • The type of correction recommended by the S.D.C. shall be intended to help the perpetrator rid the unwanted behaviour in the interest of his or her academic excellence and in general development as a person.
  • There should not be any bias when dealing with breach of discipline.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

The S.D.C. highly recommended that up to date records of the students; individual file should be adhered to because they will help the S.D.C. to make appropriate decisions and recommendations as a result of a better understanding of the students’ background.

RECOMMENDATION

This recommendation as is hereby exactly stated was made and forwarded by the members of the SDC to the teachers and all the teachers accepted it as such; In the minor offences that take place from day to day in the classroom, assembly and within the school campus, it is recommended that;

Teachers should establish a warm and friendly relation with the students, This helps in creating a common understanding between the two parties, hence a voluntary reciprocal respect, honesty and obedience indispensable for the conductive teaching and learning environment.

Teachers should love the students as they love themselves and love their own children. This love will reflect back to the teacher and hence, mutual understanding. This will also help the students to fully understand that if the teacher says ‘don’t’ to them, it is only uttered in the name of love and concern. Otherwise a teacher with cold attitude produces cold hearted rebellious and corrupt-minded students.

In the light of the above sentiments, the teachers will not need to be harsh on students because by so doing it will be clear to the students as to what is expected, and not expected, from them as reasoning intelligent beings with feelings and emotions.

Teachers should fully understand that students are neither angels nor robots. They should be ready to play a parental role by motivating and reinforcing them when the need arises.

VISION

To produce students who will be able to stand for themselves and face life challenges head on.

To produce men and women who can settle for second best.

GRIEVANCE CODE OF THE S.D.C

The students’ representative Council (S.R.C.) was formed to take care of a great number of issues affecting the administration as well as the students at large. This body (council) is made up of elected students from all the classes of the institution, some members of staff, the principal and the deputy inclusive.

AIM

To create a common forum where problems affecting the students can be redressed through dialogue and amicable solution.

OBJECTIVES OF THE S.R.C

The council meets every first Monday of each month

An open forum for students’ representative to air their legitimate grievances or concerns.

To use S.R.C. to coordinate the activities of their fellow students to improve the academic and moral standard of themselves.

Pre-meeting are held in various classes prior to the general meeting. The agenda dwells on

  • Discipline
  • Complaints
  • Opinions

After the pre meeting, the raised issues are forwarded to the S.R.C. by the class representatives.

THE DUTIES AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEMBERS

  • To organise their classes and report to the administration, any damage to property.
  • To settle disputes among their classmates and to promote unity.
  • To channel problems beyond their settlement to the School Disciplinary Committee (S.D.C) for further investigations and possible solutions.
  • To promote and enhance the speaking of English Language.
  • To ensure that students appear in their proper school uniform.
  • To discourage the act of littering and keeping a watchful eye on graffiti.
  • To report any student in possession of drugs and weapons of any kind.
  • Reporting any case of malpractice during test and examinations.

CODE OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION [MINUTE 4 OF THE S.D.C]

4.0 This serves to address the various ways in various cases of misbehavior investigated and concluded by the school disciplinary committee, S.D.C. as hereafter to, are resolved.

  • Failure to conduct oneself in a manner to learn on the side of the learner or handle classes and guide learners on the side of teachers.
  • Indecent dressing while at school or school organized/attended functions.
  • Negligence to studies.
  • Disobedience of authority
  • Disobedience/willful destruction and or irresponsible loss of school property due to negligence.
  • Use of profane/improper language.
  • Inflicting injuries to the moral tone of the school or to the physical or mental wellbeing of others in the school.
  • Possessing dangerous or offensive weapon or instrument while at school.
  • The details of these acts classified as disciplinary acts and charges the culprit faces are well stipulated in the school rules and regulation.
  • 4.2 This clause provides for the power of the Students’ Representative Council, S.R.C. to reprimand a fellow student. It explain that a member or the whole committee of SRC may reprimand a fellow student who has done an act or behaved in a way contrary to the school rules and regulation or has simply fallen short of acceptable moral and ethical standards. No form of punishment is to be administered.
  • 4.3 This serves to explain that the member(s) of the SRC can forward a case of indiscipline with or without any recommendations to the SDC or the office of the Principal hereafter referred to as P.O. in which the culprit has respectively continued the an unacceptable behaviour despite reprimands made or the behaviour of the culprit in question is far below tolerable standards.
  • 4.4 This clause serves to empower the Council Member of the S.D.C. the right to reprimand and administer a justifiable punishment to a learner who has misbehaved despite several reprimands given to this learner by the SRC or the Council of SDC member, hereafter, referred, to as teacher in question.
  • 4.5 This clause serves to empower the Executive member of the SDC to reprimand and or punish a learner brought to the council on matters of indiscipline. 4.6 This clause serves to eliminate and or limit the power of the Executive member of the SDC the right to expel a culprit of misconduct. It gives them the right to recommend as such culprits be suspended or expelled from school on approval of the Principal and the School Board.
  • 4.7 This clause serves to instruct the P.O to inform the parent or guardian of the learner who has committed an offence punishable by suspension or expulsion. A suspended/expelled student may be given a written letter addressed to the parent or guardian spelling the offence and stating the action taken. It also spells out that, subject to, a parent may be or might not be called during the disciplinary hearing of the culprit.