Correspondence: Explanation of how focusing solely on school security won't resolve South Africa's educational predicament
South Africa's Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, has announced the launch of the Safe Schools program, a collaborative initiative between the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the South African Police Service (SAPS). This program is designed to significantly improve safety and security in schools across the country, addressing alarming rates of violence, crime, and insecurity within educational institutions [1][2][3].
The Safe Schools program will prioritize a holistic and cooperative approach, involving government departments, police, school governing bodies, and communities. The primary objective is to combat violence, restore safety, dignity, and trust in the education system, and uphold constitutional rights to safety, dignity, and education for all children [1][2].
Key aspects of the program include the establishment of formal partnerships between local police stations and schools, ensuring swift responses to crime and violence on school premises. School Safety Committees, composed of the principal, School Governing Body members, and police officers, will oversee safety measures [1][2][3].
The program will also focus on key issues such as gender-based violence, sexual abuse, substance abuse, cyberbullying, and gangsterism, affecting learners [1][2][3]. Procedures like searches and seizures under the South African Schools Act will be implemented when there is suspicion of illegal substances or weapons in schools.
Visible policing, especially targeting 283 identified hotspot schools, will be a significant feature of the program, with police deployed to maintain order and deter crime. Enhanced vetting processes and access to the National Sexual Offenders Registry will protect learners from staff misconduct [1][2][3].
Principals will receive education on appropriate responses to incidents involving violence or criminal behavior among learners and staff. The program also commits to protecting not only learners but also teachers and school staff who have increasingly become victims of violence or crime within schools [1][2].
The significance of the Safe Schools program lies in its potential to improve the quality of education in South Africa by creating safer learning environments. The education debate in the country has long been dominated by questions regarding safety, sanitation, infrastructure, and attendance [4]. This program is a sign of urgency and intent from the Basic Education Minister, considered an important step forward in addressing concerns about these issues [4].
The Safe Schools program will be monitored and evaluated to assess its impact and effectiveness. The program aims to reduce fear and create a conducive learning atmosphere in schools, ensuring that they become spaces of hope and learning rather than sites of trauma [1][3].
References: [1] Department of Basic Education. (2021). Safe Schools Programme. Retrieved from https://www.education.gov.za/safe-schools-programme.html [2] South African Police Service. (2021). Safe Schools Programme. Retrieved from https://www.saps.gov.za/about-saps/our-services/community-policing-forum/safe-schools-programme.htm [3] The Citizen. (2021). Safe Schools Programme to address violence and instability in SA schools. Retrieved from https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/2635796/safe-schools-programme-to-address-violence-and-instability-in-sa-schools/ [4] Mail & Guardian. (2021). Safe Schools programme to improve quality of education in SA. Retrieved from https://mg.co.za/education/2021-09-29-safe-schools-programme-to-improve-quality-of-education-in-sa/
- The Safe Schools program, a new initiative in South Africa, aims to enhance education-and-self-development by establishing a safe and secure learning environment, tackling issues like violence, gender-based violence, substance abuse, and cyberbullying, and implementing policies and legislation for improved safety and security.
- The Safe Schools program, a joint venture between South Africa's Department of Basic Education and the South African Police Service, is expected to have a significant impact on learning, as it prioritizes the reduction of fear and the creation of a conducive learning atmosphere in schools, thereby addressing concerns in the general-news debate about safety, sanitation, infrastructure, and attendance in the education system.
