Premised on the need for safety in schools, a two-day training workshop was held at Parkland Special School in the Eastern Cape Province from 25 to 26 February 2025, to discuss disaster risk management in schools. This is an important component of school safety as it helps to identify risks and mitigate them to ensure the protection of learners, educators and staff from potential hazards that could disrupt teaching and learning and endanger lives.
The workshop brought together participants from the DBE; provincial officials; the Cooperate Governance (COGTA) – National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC); Municipal Fire Chiefs; SANTAM insurance; and special schools, including members of the SGBs. The training emphasized the importance of integrating risk management into the curriculum, and the policies of the schools, in order to ensure that learners and teachers are adequately equipped with skills that enable them to respond to emergency situations in schools.
In his opening remarks, Mr Sifiso Ngobese, Director of School Safety at the DBE, acknowledged the presence of all attendees, and highlighted the valuable role of safety experts, and in particular, their enthusiasm towards the transfer of skills and knowledge to workshop participants.
Mr Baba Malaka from the Directorate: School Safety re-assured all present that indeed, the Directorate has heeded to the call for “caring for the vulnerable communities”, the South African Human Rights Commission report on safety in special schools had earlier raised a number of concerns’ around government not caring for vulnerable communities. The Department committed to prioritise safety in special schools. The National School Safety Framework is implemented in all schools, including special schools, and provides a comprehensive standardized approach to preventing, managing, responding to safety, risks and ensuring a safe and secure learning environment in schools. The Department developed a disaster risk assessment tool in collaboration with NDMC and SANTAM insurance, the tool has been digitized and was being piloted in the Eastern Cape Province. He further stated that all schools should implement disaster risk management strategies to enhance safety and it starts by assessing the risks.
The presentations addressed the mandatory Disaster Management Risk Assessment Tool, initiated by the DBE and its partners in an effort to manage risks in schools. Ms Tersia Mdunge from SANTAM Insurance, Cooperate Social Investment Manager, highlighted the strong partnership they have with the DBE, their role being to provide technical support and to safeguard the physical and human assets in schools. She highlighted that the Tool is aimed at assisting schools and districts to assess risks and address them. The Tool has been integrated into the Education Management Information System (EMIS) and is used to analyse risks in schools.
The EMIS Directorate delivered a presentation on the steps to downloading and completing the Tool. The NDMC emphasized the importance of learners being equipped with the necessary skills in risk management, indicating that this would equip learners with lifelong skills in identifying and knowing how to react in emergency situations.
The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing Disaster Management, not only in special schools, but in all public schools. In his closing remarks, Mr Ngobese expressed his gratitude to all participants for their continued commitment, noting that their collective efforts will leave an indelible mark in supporting South African schools.