The Role of School Management Teams in Curbing Substance Abuse in Selected Schools in Vhembe District

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the role of School Management Teams (SMTs) in curbing substance abuse among learners, in selected schools in Vhembe District. SMTs play crucial roles in areas such as, maintaining discipline, raising health awareness, and safeguarding the overall safety of the school setting. The study is qualitative in nature, underscored by the interpretivism paradigm, which enabled the researcher to provide greater insights into the subject matter. The study adopted a desktop research, wherein relevant works, such as journal articles, library books, government reports, school reports, policy documents, departmental reports, and websites relevant to the study were used. The study used a purposive sampling method, a subtype of nonprobability sampling, to select pertinent journal articles, library books, online documents, and schools’ reports. This secondary data was analysed through thematic analysis which was deemed most appropriate for identifying common themes and patterns, related to the roles of SMTs, the challenges they face, and the efficacy of current prevention strategies against drug abuse. The study was underpinned by the Socio Ecological Model and the findings show that the School Management Teams (SMTs) need to strengthening school policies to address substance abuse. This study, it is anticipated, will contribute to the body of knowledge on the topic, since it will be used as a point of reference for future studies. The study has recommended strategies, critical to enhancing decision-making, to curb substance abuse in the selected schools in Vhembe District, which should play a pivotal role in shaping the government’s policy direction.