JEDDAH, 21 April 2007 — Violence in schools is a growing problem across the Kingdom and news about pupils attacking teachers feature prominently in the local media.
An English teacher was recently filmed and photographed being beaten black and blue until he fell unconscious after refusing to raise his pupils’ examination scores.
Meanwhile, another schoolteacher had a gun put to his head and was forced to helplessly watch his car being torched after reporting two of his pupils joyriding outside the school where he teaches.
Teachers in the Kingdom are horrified by what is happening and call on the authorities to provide them with protection. “This is something that seems to be increasing day by day. Some teachers suffered serious injuries and were left unconscious. Firm action needs to be taken and an example must be made of these pupils,” said Izuddeen Hafiz, a teacher at a secondary school in Jeddah.
A recent study conducted by two students under the supervision of Khadija Kaj Itani, an assistant professor at Effat College, showed that aggressive behavior is present at both intermediate and secondary schools, regardless of whether the schools are government-run, private or international.
The survey also showed that international schools tend to be the most violent, followed by government schools and then private schools. Victims include fellow pupils, schoolteachers, administration personnel, security guards and tea boys.
The study, which was conducted in Jeddah, added that in smaller towns and villages, violence tends to stem from tribal differences.
Professor Itani expressed concern at the findings and said that if the material taught at schools is beyond the grasp of pupils then this can cause them to react violently.
“Pupils in this day and age are strong but unwise. They can react violently especially when their parents play a minimal role in their lives,” said Itani.
Itani added that children copy their parents. “If parents stop yelling then children will also. The parenting style must teach children how to behave well with other people and how to become acceptable members of society. Teachers should also become more understanding of opposing views and open channels of communication with them,” she added.
Low self-esteem and jealousy, according to Itani, are also contributing factors. “The type of media that children, especially teenagers, are exposed to affects their behavior. From an early age, children are exposed to a lot of violence,” Itani said, adding that this type of exposure messes up children’s minds and emotions.
“They teach them that this is the way to live and solve problems,” she said.
Itani also believes that schoolchildren have too much time on their hands and so get up to no good.
“We can solve this problem by more cooperation between home and school. It is important to teach children from an early age that their behavior shouldn’t violate the rights of others. They need to be told that they shouldn’t damage the property of others and harm other people,” she added.
Muhammad Al-Mangari, manager of student activity at the Education Department in Jeddah, said that high school pupils are more aggressive than primary and intermediate pupils.
“They arrange themselves into gangs. These gangs tend to share their thoughts and feelings and are proud of their behavior,” he said, adding that pupils are known to be vocally abusive and use knives, brass knuckles and pepper sprays in fights.
“It is hard for staff to check whether students are carrying weapons into schools. I think the problem of violence in schools may increase unless the authorities take an interest in the issue and set up a strict penal system,” said Al-Mangari.
Muhammad Rajab, a 16-year-old student from a private high school in Jeddah, said most pupils in his school are extremely spoiled coming from privileged backgrounds.
“They generally don’t listen to teachers because of this. They don’t like being told what to do,” he said, adding, “I remember a pupil who beat up a teacher because he told him not to cheat in exams.”
Rajab believes teachers need to also change their style and behave professionally. “Our supervisors would sometimes take off their Igals (the black ring worn by Saudi men over their headscarves) and beat pupils who don’t go to class,” he added.
Another high school pupil, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “The problem of violence in our schools will remain as long as teachers continue to beat kids. To save face and to prove that they are stronger, pupils naturally react aggressively. What goes around comes around.”
