Ongoing School Violence & Crime Calls For Better Safety Measures
The alarming prevalence of crime and violence on school premises has raised concerns about school safety nationwide. In the last few years, there has been an increase in death tolls and violent attacks on teachers and learners.
South African schools have been under siege of violence and crime over the past few years, with the safety of learners and teachers continuing to be threatened almost daily.
Incidents of bullying, physical assaults, sexual harassment, and even fatalities within school premises have sent shock waves through society. These occurrences not only jeopardize the safety and well-being of learners and educators but also undermines their right to a safe and conducive learning environment.
Various efforts have been made to address the issue of school safety. However, considering the recent spate of violent crimes in schools it is clear that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) must do more to ensure safe environments for learners.
Latest School Crime Stats
The South African Police Service (SAPS) recently published the latest crime statistics for the first quarter of 2023/24, which covers April to June 2023 — showing that schools remain places of danger and violence and not the safe havens they are meant to be.
According to SAPS’ data, Between April and June this year, 19 murders and 67 rapes occurred on educational premises.
Of these, 15 murders occurred on school premises, one at a creche, and 3 at tertiary institutions. 53 rapes occurred at schools, 5 at schools for learners with special education needs (LSEN), 15 at institutions of higher learning, and one at an early childhood development (ECD) centre.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested the that the DBE to review and increase the safety strategies a measures put in place to safeguard learners and teachers.
The DA will ask Minister Motshekga to account to Parliament regarding these terrible statistics, as well as her plans on keeping learners safe.
What’s the Education Department Doing?
Last week, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga launched the National Inclusive Safer Schools Partnership (NISSP) along with the German Development Agency in the Eastern Cape. According to the department, the partnership intends to create inclusive and safer schools by strengthening Collective and Community Action to prevent school-related violence.
The programme focuses on violence at schools and the campaign against vandalism of school infrastructure.
Motshekga said, “The promotion of school safety in communities will be effectively implemented if it is done within the context of the District Development Model (DDM).”
She says the primary prevention programmes implemented in schools offer resources and support structures to learners and school-communities.
The programmes can help guide learners that may be exposed to or experiencing violence, to find coping skills, positive behavioural support and peer-to-peer education.
Such programmes can represent safe spaces for children to disclose experiences of violence, develop leadership skills, change at-risk behaviours, and improve their overall resilience, added the minister.
In addition, she revealed that government is working with all sectors and all partners to rebuild community safety and restore widespread peaceful coexistence and social inclusion.
If our children are raised in a violent home the chances are there themselves, they learn bad habits of not being able to resolve conflicts peacefully traumatizes them there’s all sorts of difficulties let alone the women that sometimes even die from gender-based violence.
Motshekga also reiterated calls for communities to be involved in protecting schools from vandalism and encouraged learners, teachers, and communities to come together to fight the scourge.
This article was orginally publsihed on www.careersportal.co.za
