Culture for Education: Influence of Initiation Rites on the Behaviour of Male Learners at Schools

Abstract

Understanding the effects of initiation rites and how they influence male students’ behaviour at school is an essential component of education. It is consistent with the idea that understanding the impact of circumcision rites on male students may encourage contact between initiates and teachers at school. If the reason for the negative side of behavioural change is not identified, it may persist or worsen, harming teaching and learning. The article contributes to the extensive debates around initiation and how it socializes young male students. Furthermore, even though initiation is widely practised worldwide and in South Africa, limited research has been conducted to determine whether initiation affects the behaviour of male students at school. The study used qualitative interpretive phenomenology to establish the perspectives on the behaviour of male initiates at school. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve participants, learners, educators from one high school, and four traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape province. Findings revealed that educators observed undesirable behavioural changes in some initiates. This information suggests that traditional leaders should work with schools to address the challenge of initiates’ behaviour.