BENONI MUSLIM SCHOOL
Merit / Demerit System
WHAT IS THE MERIT/DEMERIT SYSTEM?
The system is an objective way to monitor and track learner behaviour. It hopes to intervene early and to provide
support and resources to help learners make positive choices. As learners strive to achieve the Benoni Muslim
Schools expectations, it is critical that educators, parents, and administrators consistently hold learners accountable
when they make poor decisions. One key to this process is the early, significant involvement of parents when learner
first begin to make poor choices. As learners develop a pattern of making poor choices, parents will be expected to
become involved in supporting them in making good decisions.
VISION
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To teach Learners accountability
OUTCOMES
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Be considerate and generous to peers.
Exercise a great degree of self discipline.
Respond with sensitivity to the needs of others.
Display Islamic etiquette
Develop sound leadership qualities.
OBJECTIVES OF THE MERIT / DEMERIT SYSTEM.
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Love and consciousness of ALLAH.
Aim to establish discipline and a purposeful school environment dedicated to the accomplishment of the
vision and mission of the school
To promote positive discipline, self discipline, accountability and exemplary conduct as expounded by
Islam.
Learners will be accountable for their actions which will attract both positive and negative consequences.
Achieve the highest academic standards integrated with AKHLAAQ.
Develop and maintain respect, obedience and love towards parents, educators and peers.
The standard and expectation of the school will be made clear at all times but the ability to act responsibly,
independently of adult supervision is considered the ultimate achievement.
LEARNER EXPECTATIONS FOR A QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
It is the philosophy of Benoni Muslim School that the destiny of our community depends upon educated, wellinformed, responsible citizens in all walks of life. The staff is committed to guide learners toward these goals. In
order for learners to achieve their full potential, develop self-esteem and confidence, as well as interact
positively with others, the following system will be introduced as from 2013.
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MERIT SYSTEM
Benoni Muslim School will focus on positive behaviour and preventive measures rather than punitive
actions to improve discipline. In some cases, the shift has been associated with conscious whole
school efforts to consistently praise and reward acceptable behaviour so that it becomes the norm
throughout the school community.
The Benoni Muslim School merit policy establishes that all learners are to maintain a minimum of
ninety-five (95) merits. When a learner allows his/her merits to fall below ninety-five merits because of
consequences related to disciplinary referrals (Pink Slips), he/she is considered a learner not in good
standing and is required to make up these merits.
THE DEMERIT SYSTEM
Educators themselves should, in the first instance, attempt to correct the learner. If this is
inappropriate or ineffective, then the demerit system may be put into effect. The demerit system
emphasises consequences and accountability. Learners must be informed of the demerit points lost at
the time of the misdemeanour. The number of demerit points given depends on the seriousness of the
incident. When a learner's merit balance goes below 95, he/she is put on a weekly ineligibility list.
Learners appearing on the ineligibility list for a second week may not participate in school activities or
athletics until the needed merits are earned.
GUIDELINES TO THE MERIT DEMERIT SYSTEM
Every learner begins his/her school career with 100 merits. When a learner makes a poor choice,
merits may be taken away (demerits). Each learner is required to maintain a merit record of at least 95
merits to remain in good standing. A learner is required to earn merits immediately upon falling
below 90 merits. At Benoni Muslim School educators carry a blue slip to award merit points for those
learners who deserve them.
The BLUE SLIP indicates:
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Learner’s name
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Year
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Grade
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Brief description of the desirable behaviour
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Merit points awarded.
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 Learners who earn 10 Merit Points (110 Merits) will receive a bronze certificate.
 Learners that earn 20 merits will receive a silver certificate plus other rewards
 Learners that receive 30 merits ( 130 merits) will receive a Gold certificate plus other
rewards.
Suggested consistent behaviour that may result in one merit point maximum for each instance:
 courtesy, kindness, generosity to others
 excellence in classwork or homework
 consistent and courteous participation in class
 picking up litter; tidying up
 neatness of uniform
HOW DOES MY LEARNER EARN A DEMERIT?
When a learner receives a discipline referral to the Principal’s Office , a Demerit may be issued at the
discretion of the Principal or Deputies.
Educators use a Pink Slip readily to record demerit points for a learner’s misdemeanour.
The slip indicates:
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Learner's name
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Year and House or Homeroom
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Brief description of incident
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Demerit points given
What type of interventions and/or resources will be brought in to help support my learner?
Once a learner has received a certain number of Demerits, a meeting will be called with the parent.
These levels are at 90,, 80, 70 and 60 Demerits.
 At 90 parents will be called in. Each meeting will include the parents, learner, principal, and
counsellor. At these meetings, individualized interventions will be discussed and implemented.
 At 80 Demerits, Learner will be suspended from school for 3 days.
 At 70 Demerits, there will be a disciplinary hearing. Disciplinary Committee will decide on
action to be taken.
 At 60 Demerits, Learner will be expelled from the school.
Only after the educator has attempted to correct the learner’s behaviour, and after sufficient warning
the following may be put into action.
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Learners will lose one demerit point for the following behaviour:
 being 5-10 minutes late to class (without a note from the appropriate educator).
 consistent inattention in class or at assembly
 failure to complete work set in class
 failure to complete homework by the due date (
 unsatisfactory uniform /toppie
 use of offensive language
 littering (other than food – see two demerit points list below)
 eating food in the classrooms
 spitting in the playground
 consistently not bringing material or gear to class
 running in corridors
 swinging on chairs in classroom.
Learners will lose two demerit points for the following behaviour:
 being more than 10 minutes late for class (without a note from the responsible educator)
 being uncooperative in class or in the playground;
 being argumentative with a educator
 unsatisfactory behaviour in the Masjid or morning assembly
 throwing food
 failure to complete homework within 48 hours of the due date
 graffiti on chairs, desks or defacing any school property or other learners’ property
 leaving a class without permission
 leaving the school grounds without permission
The maximum number of demerits for any of the above offence is TWO.
The following actions will be considered more serious and demerit points or other consequences will
be assessed by the Principal in consultation with the Disciplinary Committee.
 physical assault
 smoking
 sexual harassment
 use of alcohol, drugs
 stealing
 truancy
 abuse of a educator
 bullying (refer to bullying policy)
 failure to attend detention
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 vandalism.
Will my learner earn a Demerit for going to the Principal’s Office to report a problem?
Absolutely not! Demerits are only linked to consequences. We practice an open-door policy in the
Principal’s Office and encourage learners to come down and discuss any problems with us. We want
to be proactive and supportive to assist our learners!
Do Demerits “reset” each year or do they follow a learner from year to year?
Demerit counts will return to “0” at the beginning of each school year unless they have been placed on
Final Warning. However the merits/demerits of the previous years will be kept on record.
PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED.
A. At the end of each month, Form Educators will present Merit Certificates, with appropriate
verbal commendation, to those who earn TEN merit points.
B. Exceptional Merit Certificates may be awarded at Assembly and such learners may deserve
other rewards.
C. In addition, Educators will make reference to merit points in their TERM Reports on each
learner.
D. There is a definite need for positive reinforcement for desirable and worthy behaviour. Learners
who show a consistent attitude, which demonstrates itself in positive behaviour that goes
beyond the normal or accepted, deserve to be acknowledged.
E. Completed demerit cards are to be placed in a box in the secretary’s office at the earliest
convenience for compilation into a permanent record of demerits.
F. The Disciplinary Committee regularly checks the demerit list.
The DC sends learners to detention and notifies them when they accumulate five demerit
points.
G. Learners are sent to detentions for a second time when they accumulate a further five demerit
points.
H. Any learner who accumulates 10 demerit points within one term will attend an interview with his
parents/ Form Educator and the Principal .
I.
Form Educators will be informed and given regular (weekly) summaries of demerit points
relating to each learner in their care.
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CONSEQUENCES WHEN DEMERITS ARE ACCUMULATED
Every multiple of 5 - The learner is sent to afternoon detention (run from 15:10 – 16:10 on TUESDAY
AND THURSDAY)
The notice board outside the Principals office will be used for this purpose.
DETENTION
Afternoon Detention
These take place from 15:10 – 16:10 pm on TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS under the supervision of
an educator.
The detention are to be done on the afternoon that the learner is informed or on the next afternoon.
Learners are to have their Diaries signed by the educator in charge of detention.
Learners are given jobs that will occupy them for at least an hour and may be required to work under
supervision of one of the Maintenance or Ground staff.
1. Detention will be offered 2 days a week and will be supervised by school staff
2. Detention will be for 1 hour . Afternoon detention will start at 15:10 p.m. and end at
16:10 p.m.
3. Learners will not be permitted to talk or sleep. Learners must bring enough schoolwork to keep
them working for the entire time.
4. Learners must stay the entire period and be engaged in schoolwork in order to
receive merits
Homework Detention
These take place from 3.10 – 4.10 under the supervision of an educator. Learners are to report to the
appropriate room. They are to complete the homework that they did not complete by the due date.
Learners may be sent to these Homework Detention by any educator who should also record
demerits. The demerits will help form a profile of the learner’s behaviour and the detention session will
ensure that the homework is done.
EARNING MERITS
Making up demerits (earning merits) may be done by serving one hour detention for every two merits
needed, or by doing school service administered by school staff. Only detention or approved school and
community service may be used to earn needed merits.
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MAJOR INFRACTIONS SUMMARY
Major infractions will result in a parent conference and suspension, and/or expulsion from the School.
In situations where the law is violated, learners are subject to possible arrest. Due to the severity of
any infraction, the combination of rules broken, or the repeated nature of the offense, the Code of
Conduct will be enforced at the discretion of the Principal. In this case a learner will be suspended, and
referred or recommended for expulsion.
MINOR INFRACTIONS
Infraction
Violation of class rules
Class disturbance
Obscenity/Profanity
Littering
1st Offense
Educator phones parent
2nd Offense
Referral/ demerits
Parent contact
Educator phones parent Referral/ demerits
Parent contact
Referral/ demerits
Consequences to
Parent contact
increase with the
severity of infraction
Referral/ demerits
Referral/ demerits
3rd Offense
Referral/ demerits
Parent contact
Referral/ demerits
Parent contact
Referral/1 day suspension
Parent contact
1 week of school
Beautification
1-3 day suspension
Parent contact
Aggressive conduct
Referral/ demerits
Parent contact
Radio/Electronic
equipment, cell
phones
Referral/ demerits
Chewing of Gum
Educator phones parent
Referral/ demerits
Parent contact
Educator contacts parent Referral/ demerits
Parent contact
Contact parent
demerits/
parent contact
demerits/
Referral/ demerits
Parent contact
Parent contact
School beautification
Parent contact
Referral/1 day suspension
Parent contact
Referral/1 day suspension
Parent contact
1 day suspension
parent contact
Referral/ demerits
Referral/1-3 days
Educator contacts parent suspension
Parent contact
Referral/ demerits
Referral/1-3 days
Parent contact
suspension
Parent contact
Referral/3-5 day suspension
Failure to serve
educator detention
Failure to serve detention
Violation of dress code
Leaving class
without permission
Leaving school
without permission
Referral/1 day
suspension
Parent contact
Referral/ demerits
1-3 day suspension
Parent contact
Referral/3-5 day suspension
Parent conferences
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MAJOR INFRACTIONS
Infraction
1st Offense
2nd Offense
3rd Offense
3-5 day suspension
Parent Conference
Cheating or plagiarism
Demerits
Zero on
assignment/test
Parent contacted by
educator
2-5 day suspension
Parent contact by
educator Zero on
assignment
Sign a Last
Chance Contract
Forgery/Fraud
1-3 day suspension
Parent contact
1-5 day suspension
Parent contact
Defiance of authority
Referral
Demerits
1-3 day suspension
Parent contact
3-5 day
suspension
Parent
conference
Disrespect/profanity to
staff
Referral/1-3
day
suspension
Parent
contacted
1-5 day suspension
Parent contact
Fighting
1-5 day
suspension
Parent
conference
Probation
contract
5 day
suspension
Parent
conference
Probation
contract
Group fighting
5 day suspension
Parent conference
5 day
suspension
Parent
conference
Threats to learners/staff 5 day suspension
Parent contact
Threatened or
caused personal
injury
5 day
suspension
Parent contact
Possible
expulsion
Harassment,
threats or
intimidation
Sexual/racial
harassment
1-5 day suspension
Parent contact
Possession/use of
laser pointer
Parent conference
probation contract
Severity of
behaviour will
increase
consequence
1-3 day suspension
1-3 day
suspension
Parent
conference
Probation
contract
3-5 day suspension
Parent contact
Parent contact
5 day suspension
Possession of tobacco
Referral to Program
Parent contact
Referral -3 day
suspension
Parent contact
3-5 day suspension
Smoking of
tobacco on school
grounds
Referral to Program
Parent contact
Referral -3 day
suspension
Parent contact
3-5 day suspension
Possession of drug
paraphernalia
1-5 day suspension
Parent contact Site
Offence to increase with
severity
Possession or use
of any controlled
substance
5 day suspension
Parent contact Possible
expulsion
Posses/brandish,
sell or otherwise
furnish a weapon or
a replica of a
weapon
Offer to sell or
5 day suspension
Parent contact Sheriff
notified/Expulsion
otherwise furnish
any controlled
substance
5 day suspension
Parent contact Police
notified
recommendation for
expulsion
Possession of/or
using fireworks or
other explosives
3-5 day suspension
Parent conference
possible expulsion
Theft
1-3 day suspension
Parent contract
Vandalism/destructi
on of school
property
Graffiti
Possession of
vandalism devices,
markers, etching
tools, white-out,
paint, stickers, etc.
1-5 day suspension
Parent conference
Restitution by parent
Jumping School
Security Fence
3-5 day suspension
Parent contact
5 day suspension
Parent contact
1-3 day suspension
Parent contact
3 day suspension
Parent conference
5 day suspension Parent
contact SEC
1 day suspension
2 day suspension
3 day suspension