South Africa observes Anti-Bullying Week annually from 11 to 15 November to raise awareness of the risks of school bullying, cyberbullying and harassment. The link between school-related violence, bullying (including cyberbullying), and mental health cannot be ignored. The DBE condemns any form of bullying incidents occurring in schools. Bullying has no place in our schools, and the Department is committed to eradicating this heinous practice.
According to the South African Schools Act 84, 1996, schools are compelled to develop, adopt and implement learner codes of conduct to address any form of ill-discipline such as bullying and maintain positive discipline in schools. Furthermore, schools are also compelled to establish disciplinary committees to investigate and address any form of bullying incidents reported to senior management teams and enforce appropriate sanctions, as well as establish school safety committees to identify safety threats and develop safety plans to address any violent incidents.
Schools are further encouraged to work with Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) and civil society organisations to conduct regular awareness campaigns on bullying. The Interdepartmental Campaign on Anti Bullying and Violence Prevention Campaign, championed by the Deputy Minister, has been rolled out in six provinces. Partners in online safety include the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies; the Department of Social Development; the Films and Publication Board; Google; and UNICEF. On psychosocial support, Learner Support Agents (LSAs) have been trained and are in identified schools to assist with psychosocial support. In addition, the DBE has been rolling out the Online Safety Programme on the Curriculum Guidelines for online safety and digital wellbeing.
In terms of curriculum delivery, learners are further taught about bullying, its causes, and consequences through the Life Orientation Curriculum, which starts at Grade 4 and concludes in Grade 12. Understanding peaceful approaches to conflict management are covered systematically across grades. The Department further promotes learner agency which encourages learners to stand up for the values and rights enshrined in the Constitution and protect one another from harm. Thus, Learner Representative Councils and Junior Commissioners are also regularly empowered to help learners in reporting bullying and raising awareness on the consequences of bullying in their schools.
Students, educators and communities must work together to create safer nurturing school environments. School debates on this topic serve as a call to action, advocating for holistic education and the promotion of values, whilst providing practical tools and resources to foster a culture of respect, empathy and inclusivity in schools. By engaging students, educators, and communities, these debates advocate for and ensure the promotion of mental health through building safe and supportive environments.