Lobby group Equal Education says the criminalisation of learners is not the answer to bullying.

This follows the suspension of eight learners at Milnerton High School in Cape Town.

The learners were allegedly involved in a violent bullying incident at the school last week.

A video doing the rounds on social media shows a learner being assaulted by other boys with objects such as hockey sticks.

Equal Education Deputy Secretary General Nontsikelelo Dlulani has called for adequate psychosocial support for learners involved in bulling incidents in schools.

“But beyond the adequate psychosocial support for learners in schools, they must make sure that they train SGB members and the school safety committees to play their role so that situations and incidents like these do not happen. We do not support the criminalisation of learners, but we are saying it must go according to polices. But at the same time, the structure is that are there they must be active in responding to these (incidents) while providing psychosocial support for the learners in schools and making sure that it does not happen again.”

Outrage over assault of learner at Milnerton High School: