Restorative Conferences as a Conflict Resolution Tool: An Action Research Project in a Zimbabwean High School
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/1p94t348Keywords:
restorative justice, restorative practices, restorative conferences, schools, violence, ZimbabweAbstract
Conflicts, violence and breaches of discipline are common in Zimbabwean schools. Teachers have always used retributive practices, particularly corporal punishment, to deal with these problems, but this approach has been outlawed since 2013. Since then, teachers have struggled to handle indiscipline without using corporal punishment. Restorative disciplinary practices such as restorative conferences, peer mediation and peacebuilding circles are possible alternatives but to date have been little used in Zimbabwe. This article reports an action research project that introduced restorative conferences with Form 2 learners in one large urban high school between October 2022 and May 2023. A short-term evaluation of the use of such conferences found strong support from learners, teachers and parents. This finding suggests the potential benefits of restorative conferences and related practices as a way of building more peaceful school communities.
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