Parliament, Tuesday, 8 October 2024 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences, and Creative Industries, Mr Makhi Feni has noted with appreciation plans the Department of Education has in dealing with extortion, safety, as well as bullying in public schools.
Mr Feni said: “The committee is excited with the collaborative nature with which government departments are working to resolve these matters. Schools should remain safety zones, and safe spaces for learners and educators.”
“It concerned the committee that the country was now beginning to see cultures that were foreign, including the attacks on teachers by learners and outsiders, as well as the recent demands of protection fee,” added Mr Feni.
The committee met with all stakeholders involved in the morning and they shared plans on extortion cases, school safety programmes, as well as plans to root out bullying and cyberbullying.
DBE Minister, Ms Siviwe Gwarube and Deputy Minister Dr Reginah Mhaule, led the delegation which comprised the South African Police Service and departmental officials. Minister Gwarube said schools were a microcosm of the communities they are in, and that this was the premise from which the issues needed to be understood. She said DBE had adopted a multifaceted approach, against difficult fiscal environment, in dealing with the matters of safety including working directly with Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu.
Mr Feni said the committee had confidence in how government sought to intervene and resolve the challenges including dealing decisively with availability of drugs near and around schools.
“We remain concerned with how the Eastern Cape schools seem to have been targets of all the shenanigans. Targeting of teachers by street robbers is unacceptable. The robbery incidents inside school premises are reportedly high in the Nelson Mandela Bay and the OR Tambo region,” emphasised Mr Feni.
He said the committee welcomed the commitment to train subject advisors on cyber space safety and Online Safety curriculum Guidelines.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SCIENCES, AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, MR MAKHI FENI.
For media inquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Mr Sibongile Maputi
Cell: 081 052 6060
Email: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
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