The ministry's principal secretary Dr. Mangani Chilala Katundu said as the school calendar begins, students should not resort to violence and destroy infrastructure, but use existing channels to resolve misunderstandings.

Dr. Katundu disclosed that with at least four schools, including Nachitheme Secondary School in Ntcheu, involved in violence in the last school calendar, the guidelines remain in force to deal with unruly wards.

"Four schools in Mchinji, Mwanza and Ntcheu were involved in violence in the last school calendar," he said. " Some students assume that destroying infrastructure, teaching and learning materials hurts someone they disagree with, but it only makes their learning difficult."

Meanwhile, educationist Wesley Mwambakulu believes the vice could be minimized with all stakeholders putting their hands on the deck to create a conducive learning environment.

"Parents should be advising their students on the importance of education, including the repercussions of being involved in violence," Mwambakulu advised.

Meanwhile, according to Dr. Katundu, the ministry has engaged schools with recurrent incidents of violence in programs aimed at reforming learners, teachers and management committees so that learning is not disrupted.