Cape Town — A snapshot of horrific classroom conditions across the country -- including attempted murder, possession of knives and illegal firearms, drug abuse and assault of both pupils and teachers -- has emerged from expulsion statistics provided by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

Headmasters of schools do not have the power to expel problem children -- only to suspend them for a maximum of seven days. They then need to apply to the head of the provincial education department for an expulsion.

The department must either accept or reject the application, and if it is accepted must then decide if the circumstances of the offence warrant expulsion.

Teachers have long complained that they are powerless to discipline problem pupils and there have even been calls for a return to corporal punishment.

Motshekga, replying to a parliamentary question from Democratic Alliance MP Juline Kloppers-Lourens, said the greatest number of applications for expulsion, and also the most granted by the department, was 337 in the Western Cape last year.

T wo were granted for absenteeism/truancy, 18 for alcohol- related incidents, five for arson/ bomb threats/vandalism, 67 for assault and violence, 48 for assault with a weapon, 34 for drug dealing and distribution, 68 for drug possession and use, six for sexual harassment, 13 for sexual misconduct and rape, 23 for verbal abuse and threats, nine for unacceptable behaviour, four for disregard of authority and instructions, 20 for possession of dangerous weapons and 20 for theft and fraud.

There were no appeals from parents or pupils.

The figures supplied by the minister also showed the extent to which schools and provincial departments were using the powers to apply for expulsions and the powers to approve them.

In the Eastern Cape there were only seven applications for expulsion . "Consumption of liquor at a school function, physical abuse and bullying of another learner, assault, disrespectful to educators (teachers), possession of dagga, assault and attempt to stab another learner and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm," were the seven incidents. Only the last one was approved.

In its list of offences by pupils, the Free State had one of the more unusual. An application was made for the expulsion of a student who tried to throw another student off a second-floor balcony. The expulsion was among 28 that were granted, while two were not.

Also on the list of offences in the Free State was threatening of a teacher with a dangerous weapon, the assault of a teacher and the sexual harassment of a teacher -- for all of which expulsion was approved.

Of the 130 applications for expulsion in Gauteng, 23 were approved -- one for carrying an unlicensed firearm.

There were 11 applications in KwaZulu-Natal and all were approved. Similar situations occurred in the remaining provinces.

Kloppers-Lourens, commenting on the figures, said it was clear that in the Western Cape, "they don't take any nonsense and apply the schools act" while in the Eastern Cape they clearly were not doing the same.

"But the biggest problem is what to do with these children. It is a vicious circle; they are expelled from one (school) and then apply to another where the bad behaviour is repeated. We need special schools for the rehabilitation of problem students," Kloppers-Lourens said, advocating a return to the "old system" of reform schools.