The Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, has said schools are a microcosm of their communities and thus violent communities tend to have a higher prevalence of violence in their schools. She was briefing the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries on plans to resolve the recent extortion cases in schools in the OR Tambo region, Eastern Cape.
“The DBE had adopted a multifaceted approach against a difficult fiscal environment in dealing with the matters of safety and that it includes working directly with Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu,” Minister Gwarube said. She encouraged South Africans to be clear-eyed about what is possible in terms of safety in schools because of this unavoidable reality – that schools reflect the societies in which they are situated.
Minister Gwarube led a strong departmental delegation comprising the Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, and senior executives from the South African Police Service (SAPS). Other matters they briefed the committee on included:
i) school safety programmes
ii) relationship with law enforcements
iii) interventions to address bullying in schools
The committee heard that a high number of robberies on school precincts targeting school teachers were reported in Nelson Mandela Bay, Umlazi, and Pinetown districts. It was also reported that corporal punishment continues to be used in some schools and a guidance manual has been drawn up to address the matter. The committee also heard that safety and bullying incidents arose out of social ills that impact on their surrounding communities.
The committee also heard that a number of government departments are collaborating on plans to root out violence in schools, including the SAPS, and the departments of Health, Social Development, and Communications. Subject advisors are also being trained in cyberspace safety and online safety curriculum guidelines.
Committee member Mr Pat Sibande commented that extortion at schools indicated a weakness in school safety measures. “I agree with your approach, but I am wondering if the department could not have security personnel deployed and kitted with gadgets that are directly linked with the nearest police station,” he enquired. Mr Sibande said this approach was working well in Germany and he encouraged South Africa to try it.
Committee members asked the department questions on a range of issues, such as how many learners have died due to violence at schools and how many have committed suicide as a result of bullying at school. Members were also interested in the parent’s role in monitoring social media use and ways to hold them accountable for this, cyberbullying, schools without recreational facilities, or instances where former recreational areas have been occupied by shack dwellers, the Master Drug Plan, and unfenced school properties.
The department undertook to provide written responses to some questions. The committee Chairperson, Mr Makhi Feni, said the committee particularly welcomed the department’s commitment to train subject advisors on online safety curriculum guidelines.
Sibongile Maputi
8 October 2024
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