the COVID-19 pandemics have compounded the problem, and the majority of these child household heads are
boys ( Chimbunde and Jakachira, 2024). A female teacher, Participant, T7, had this to say about these learners:
“These children heading families become adults in everything, some even make advances on you, they become
arrogant, do not do their homework, and are often late or absent. Not all are wild. But the majority get affected
academically” (Participant T7, school teacher).
Author (2024) argue that bringing in Ubuntu, both into the school leadership and amongst teachers
and learners,would go a long way in helping to solve this problem. Freire’s Critical Theory comes in handy
here, to help foster joint parenting between the adult members of these families and the schools, through
fostering inclusivity, empowerment and care (Sho, 2002). Compounded with the Positive Youth Development
Theory (Pittman, 2017) these youngsters would experience positive relationships, positive relationships, care,
and skills development, through such initiatives. Sho (2002)’s theory, promoting the development of critical
thinking, and the application of social justice, and empowerment in educat in developing the boy child.ion will
compliment the Ubuntu theory .
Truancy and Absenteeism
Participants in the study raised the fact that there is rampant truancy and absenteeism, particularly amongst boy
children, and they blamed this on the ghost teachers and shadow education. Where they are in school, there is a
lot of mischief and unruly behaviour, here is what one teacher participant had to say about unruly behaviour:
“Not doing their work, not covering their books, not even writing, some of them, the rest would just be sitting
making noise being mischievous. At the end of the day, the Headmaster would request some exercise books
from everyone” (Participant T11, school teacher).
Shadow education, according to Chimbunde and Jakachira (2024), has compounded this problem in that these
learners have the laxity to miss school as they can always recoup through the extra lessons offered in the
homes, by the same teachers they see at school. This has rendered schools useless, when it comes to learning,
as real learning is happening outside of the schools (Chibaya, 2021). This has sparked a wave of dropouts,
particularly amongst the boy child, compared to their female counterparts (Chingwanangwana, 2019).
Chang’ach (2012) reiterates that, in neighbourhoods where fathers are most scarce, the high-school dropout
rates are shocking, and he further mourns that, in such instances a whole generation of men lose in education
completely. Through the application of the Positive Youth Development Theory, based on its five C’s:
Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character and Caring, the boy child can be captured and be built to a
level of productivity and healthy incorporation into the adult society.
Gambling and violent acts in class
Participants raised the fact that often times these students are not occupied in the schools, due to teacher
indifference, lateness or absenteeism, so they have room to engage in all sorts of activities, like doing drugs
and abuse substances right at school. It also emerged that in some instances they engage in gambling, playing
cards and checkers during class time.
“Teachers because of economic hardships, the teachers are trying to put food on the table, trying to make extra
cash, so at times he does not come to work, busy somewhere trying to make extra cash for a living.”
(Participant H3, school head).
Some of these tendences and behaviours, according to Mthiyane (2013) emerge from factors that are internal
and external to the school, social, and communal components. This is reinforced by what Edwards (2008)
articulates, that students often bring problems from other areas of their lives, such as divorce, abandonment,
death, and other challenges, to school. Curing the schools begins in the community, as the school mirrors the
society, the current socio-political and economic turbulence happen to be the majour source of these ills
(Chingwanangwana, 2019; Chibaya, 2021). The principles of Pitman (2017)’s PYD theory of focusing on the
strength, promoting positive relationships, providing opportunities, skills building and community