Young professionals: Indiscipline at school

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My Motto… Najeeb Ahmad Fokeerbux: Founder of Young Queer Alliance

Najeeb is the founder President and volunteer advocate, activist and trainer at the Young Queer Alliance, a non-governmental, non-profit making, apolitical and youth-led organisation for young people based on their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE). He works in public infrastructure. One of his inspirational motto is from Nelson Mandela: “I am not an optimist, but a great believer of hope.” This, especially when working on issues around SOGIE, “in a country where bigotry and homophobia persist.” He has filed several complaints at the Equal Opportunities Commission under the Equal Opportunities Act 2008 concerning various issues concerning human rights based on sexual orientation. These are: 1) Two cases on blood donation ban against homosexuals, 2) Registration of the Young Queer Alliance and 3) The right to marry. Of his successful representations at the Equal Opportunities Commission are: 1) A partial win on lifting the ban on gays, bisexuals and lesbians but a ban on males who have anal sex with other males and 2) Ensuring the registration of the Young Queer Alliance. While the Commission is still consulting with the Ministry of Health to allow LGBT organisations to organise blood drives win on lifting the ban on homosexuals, the main legal action that he is looking at is the Marriage Equality issue at the Commission, given the openness of the Equal Opportunities Act 2008. In 2015, the Young Queer Alliance activism project for IDAHOT 2015: “Equality For All” won the 1st runner-up prize of the SICOM Youth Excellence Award – Youth Leadership and Community Work. Outside social work, Najeeb loves reading books, the latest being the bestseller series of George R. R. Martin: A Song of Ice and Fire. He also loves social networking, writing in newspapers and outdoor activities.

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Jaya Mulloo: “My mobile phone got confiscated” Jaya, a part time chef, kathak dancer and a young professional working at the MCB Group, explains that discipline is an integral part of self-development. It is one of the essential driving forces to achieve your goals or aims in life. “Once I remember how my mobile phone got confiscated by the principal. It is a rule at school that no mobile phone should be switched on during classes. One day, the principal was walking around classes to check if there was anyone who had their mobile on. Unfortunately, mine was switched on so it got confiscated. I felt really bad about it because I wanted to be part in the student council. This situation made me reflect on my conduct as a person who intends to be a source of inspiration to others. From there on, I decided that I would my best to keep away from such behaviours,” she confides. She believes that in order to stand as an example for others, one should always start with him or herself. “On that day, I made an active choice to practice what I preach. Therefore, I am very grateful for the lessons learnt as they enabled me to start on a quest towards self-improvement. There is not an iota of doubt in my mind that life experiences have played and continue to play an important role in building the person I am today,” she says. Commenting on school indiscipline nowadays, she states: “What saddens me is the fact that having a goal in life seems to elude our young and future workforce. They seem to carry no will to achieve high goals. When some students are asked: “Where do you see yourself after school?” They cannot answer at question or at least begin to think about what they want to do. Based on my experience as an educator, young people barely listen to their parents, they would not take into consideration the opinion of their family. Hence, it is unrealistic to expect them to care about what their teachers have to say. Discipline is something that starts at home and continues throughout your lifetime. It is high time for parents to realise, accept and not evade their responsibilities. Teachers are there, yes, however, they are only here to provide some more arrows to our young people’s quiver. Some more ammunition to further their intellectual efforts in achieving their goals in life.”

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Jürgen Lasavanne: “I bunked PE classes” 20-year old Jürgen still remembers how he bunked PE classes when he was in lower six to read a magazine. “I preferred reading to PE classes which I found tiresome and boring. My rector caught me in class, reading; I have been severely reprimanded as I did not abide by the school’s rules and regulations. Bunking classes is not allowed. Fortunately, it was only a verbal warning,” he says. Since that day, Jürgen understood the importance of discipline for the functioning of an organisation. “The absence of discipline usually leads to chaos and disorder just to mention a few ills. I also became more responsible and respectful towards the laws and authorities.”He believes that indiscipline is rising in schools. “Bullying can be in the form of moral harassment, physical abuse, sexual harassment or psychological abuse. All these are very much common nowadays. A recent shocking case is that of an educator in a private institution who received threats because he reprimanded a student who was misbehaving in class,” he highlights. In order to redress the situation, he feels communication between students and teachers should be improved. “Sensitization campaigns on the consequences of indiscipline on students’ well-being. More CCTV cameras and the placement of policemen and security guards in schools and colleges to ensure better security and order. To inculcate a culture of respect and discipline through morning assemblies, moral values classes, social studies classes and pastoral care sessions,” he proposes.

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Anu Meetun: “I wrote names on the table” Anu Meetun works in the education sector and she still remembers the first time she got caught for indiscipline in class. “I was in Form 3 and I wrote my name and that of my best friend on the table. The teacher caught me doing so. She asked me to erase it and noted it in my school journal to be signed by my parents. At home, I was scolded by my mother. After that episode, I understood the meaning of cleanliness,” she explains. For the young lady, indiscipline is a matter of concern nowadays as students are violent and do not show respect to friends as well as elders. “The situation is alarming. Discipline comes from the upbringing of a child. Parents should get involved in their kids’ life. There should always be a psychologist present in the school compound. Our system does not follow youngsters from the beginning,” she says.

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