Kids will be kids, apologists might say, but the students who bunked school to booze it up right next to a police station in Ekurhuleni will learn at least one lesson the hard way: Crime does not pay.

Kids will be kids, apologists might say, but the students who bunked school to booze it up right next to a police station in Ekurhuleni will learn at least one lesson the hard way: Crime does not pay.

The six grade 9s were bust for drinking in public. And once the educational authorities, the law and their parents are done with them we hope they'll think twice before bunking "boring" lessons to "chill" and "party".

Even tough officers were appalled at the kids' brazen effrontery in whooping it up 15m from the cop shop.

"They have no respect for their school, parents and, worst of all, for the law," said policeman William Masondo.

Let's hope their humiliated teachers and parents recognise this is where the kids' tough life lessons begin.

And the cops should also not play nice with these brats.

Social analysts can rant all they want about our dysfunctional educational system, but we won't get anywhere until kids learn they also bear a hefty responsibility to secure their own futures.

Too many kids believe they are entitled to a comfortable future and instant gratification of their whims.

Well, one of life's lessons is that we must work hard for our rewards.

We trust that all concerned will ensure these kids learn that toughest of lessons immediately.