“Mediation is often used to resolve conflicts in various contexts, including conflicts within the school environment.”
On 19 July 2024, ProBono.Org and the mediation Network Africa teacher training programme.
The goal of the training was to empower teachers on various methods of conflict resolution that could be held between learners-teachers and teachers-parents. In attendance was a vast network of 34 Life Orientation teachers from schools throughout the Gauteng region.
ProBono.Org provided a brief legal insight on the applicable rights in cases of child pregnancies. In terms of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, females under the age of 18 can obtain an abortion and receive contraceptives without parental consent. However, if the female is under the age of 16, a health care provider has a duty to report the abortion to the National Department of Health. Theresa Luyt from the Mediation Network Africa facilitated the training. She highlighted childhood trauma as being a contributing factor, explaining to the teachers that such trauma can result in an array of mental illnesses, including depression and other personality disorders.
She trained the teachers on the various symptoms to look out for while interacting with their learners. Ms Luyt explained that the Children’s Act and the Constitution expressly provide for the best interest of the child in all child-related matters. She unfolded formal family mediation (FFM) as a process where a mediator assists parties in resolving a dispute void of conflict. Mediation is often used to resolve conflicts in various contexts, including conflicts within the school environment.
The teachers received resources which they can refer to when conflict arises in their schools. They were also provided with extra conflict-related content to use in practice. When a dispute arises relating to a pregnant learner, the options available are: termination of the pregnancy; placing of the child in a foster home; or adoption. Further, the prospective parents/guardians can conclude a parenting plan.
A parenting plan agreement is a written document that outlines the arrangements for the care and upbringing of children after a separation or divorce. A roleplay scenario was introduced to the teachers to provide them with a practical opportunity to implement their conflict resolution skills. The scenario included a pregnant learner who had had sexual relations with one of her classmates. The teacher noticed the pregnancy and approached the learner. The exercise aimed to establish how the teachers would mediate between the learners involved and their parents. The teachers were fully engaged in this exercise and had an opportunity to exercise the skills they had acquired during the training.
The training was a remarkable success. Many teachers expressed a wish to receive similar training in different alternative dispute resolution matters.
