Every beginning of the year schoolchildren are seen roaming the streets as if there is some form of boycott.

Every beginning of the year schoolchildren are seen roaming the streets as if there is some form of boycott.

Ensuring that children go to school is not the responsibility of teachers only.

Parents only become concerned when their children are punished and demand that those involved should be dealt with. Parents need to be involved because they are clearly contributing to the decline in discipline in our schools. Members of the community are also important role players through school governing bodies.

Principals also need to realise that they cannot go it alone. They need parents to keep the children in line.

Would it not be proper if the police were mandated to round up loitering schoolchildren and take them to their respective schools? These children must be forced to attend classes.

How will we realise the ideal of providing free education if the recipients do not even attend classes and only concern themselves with fashion and the Bold and the Beautiful?

This year must be one of change. There must be discipline in our schools. We dare not complain that our children are failing in numbers while we sit back and wait for an opportunity to complain. They must be forced to go to school.

Darkie Mbanyana, Daveyton