IN YESTERDAY'S edition we reported about a disturbing trend of teachers abusing their positions of power to have sex with pupils. They have become sitting ducks for randy, unethical teachers who are abusing their positions as guardians of these tender souls to satisfy their vile desires.

Teachers have an important role to play in the development of our children's character and moral values. As a society we hold certain ethical expectations when it comes to their behaviour - especially towards the charges whose lives are put in their supposedly able hands.

Pupils go to school for knowledge and self-development. They see teachers as role models who guide them in their quest for a better life through education.

Given the position they hold in society, teachers are also expected to understand that there are certain moral boundaries that society imposes on them when it comes to their relationship with pupils.

Simply put, teachers are expected to hold themselves to the highest moral and ethical standards so that they are beyond reproach when it comes to the relationship with their charges.

Any teacher who does not understand these moral boundaries has no business to be in the classroom.

No teacher should have sexual relations with learners - whether the liaison is consensual or not. Teachers who do are guilty of abusing their roles and exploiting their authority.

This is not only unethical but morally corrupt. In fact, some social scientists have argued that teachers who have sexual relations with their charges are usually social misfits. They have a low self-esteem and use the normally naive learners to boost their deflated sense of self-worth.

They also have no self-respect or respect for others. Instead of respecting and protecting learners, they manipulate them to boost their own egos. They fail dismally when it comes to the test of duty versus desire.

It is in this context that we find actions taken by the Department of Education to deal with these miscreants commendable. We also commend the South African Council of Educators for its indefatigable investigations in this regard.

We agree that teachers found guilty of such vile acts must be expelled. We also hope that the culprits' names will be included in the register of sexual offenders. In fact, we believe there should be more stringent sanctions against these predators.

There are countries in which having sexual relations with learners is regarded not only as unprofessional and unethical, but is also a criminal offence - whether there has been consent or not.