Despite many success and positive stories of creating safe spaces for teaching and learning, violence, bullying, drugs and substance abuse, vandalism, corporal punishment and the carrying of dangerous weapons remain a concern in South African schools. The 2021 General Household Survey, indicates a decline in learners who have experienced violence in schools; however, the survey noted the prevalence of corporal punishment, which has been banned in schools.

Mr Sifiso Ngobese, Director for Sport and Enrichment in Education, explained that, “the National School Safety Framework (NSSF) provides a conceptual framework for a common approach to school safety. The South African Council for Educators (SACE) accredited the digital training developed in this regard during 2020, and to date, 130,028 individuals have completed the course. In addition, Disaster Risk Management in Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) schools remain a priority. The DBE has partnered with SANTAM and the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) for the development of the Disaster Risk Management Tool and is offering training in LSEN schools. The DBE also published the Protocol to Deal with Incidences of Corporal Punishment in Schools and the Protocol for the Management and Reporting of Sexual Abuse and Harassment in Schools as guidelines. Each school must have a Code of Conduct in place, along with School Safety Committees to manage instances of transgression. The DBE and the South African Police Service (SAPS) Protocol also assists with curbing violence in schools through amongst others, Crime Awareness Campaigns, linking of schools to local police stations and searches and seizures”.

He added that the Inter-Departmental Campaign on Violence Prevention, championed by Basic Education Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, along with seven other partner departments is a major intervention programme in curbing violence and social ills. These roadshows, which address social ills such as teenage pregnancy, violence bullying, drug and substance abuse in schools, have been rolled out to six provinces thus far and will be extended to the remaining three provinces.

Plans for the rest of the year are to monitor 25 districts across the nine provinces on the implementation of school safety programmes; strengthen school safety programmes in Special Schools and continue with training workshops on the Disaster Risk Assessment Tool in the Northern and Eastern Cape Provinces. The DBE has released a Circular on the Banning of Corporal Punishment in Schools, as well as a Circular to remind schools on the regulations of Safety Measures pertaining to school excursions and water activities. The Department will also facilitate Research on Harmful Religious Practices in Schools, in partnership with UNICEF and the Universities of Pretoria and Johannesburg and partner in the development of a toolbox to improve partnerships and linkages for support to districts.

“The safety of our learners, teachers and classrooms remains one of our main priorities in creating conducive environments fit and safe for learning and teaching,” Mr Ngobese concluded.