On 12 August 2025, the South African National Commission (SA NatCom) for UNESCO, in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the South African Council for Educators (SACE), the Tshwane South Education District, and the AGAPE Youth Movement, hosted a roundtable on violence and bullying in schools. Hosted at Prosperitus Secondary School in Eesterus, the session sought to understand the growing challenge of violence and bullying experienced by teachers in schools. Aptly themed “Giving Voice to Teachers”, the engagement provided a platform to understand how incidents of violence and bullying impact teachers’ wellbeing and ability to carry out their professional responsibilities, while also exploring practical strategies to enhance safety and support within the school environment.

Opening the dialogue, Mrs Palesa Tyobeka, Chairperson of the SA NatCom Education Sector Committee, set out the programme’s central aim: to capture first-hand accounts from teachers. “Too often interventions are shaped by assumptions from officials and experts, without truly listening to those who face these challenges daily,” she said. To ground policy in classroom realities, the initiated plan focuses on roping in teachers to document their experiences and incorporating relevant practical recommendations from these key stakeholders.

In facilitating the programme, Mr Matsetsebale Tleane, Managing Director of the AGAPE Youth Movement, framed the conversation as an opportunity for teachers to shape the narrative before the plan moves to systemic considerations. Posing the reflective question, “When you hear the words violence and fear, from your role as a teacher in your school, what incidents come to mind?” he encouraged an open dialogue rooted in personal and professional experience. Drawing from his own background as a child of an educator, he acknowledged the persistent difficulties faced by teachers and learners alike, stressing that collaborative and inclusive dialogue between all education stakeholders is essential in developing meaningful solutions.

Teachers’ testimonies illustrated the complexity and urgency of the problem, with most teachers expressing that the lack of clear, step-by-step guidance leaves them feeling vulnerable, particularly when any defensive gesture might be misinterpreted as aggression. Their accounts underscored gaps in the advocacy of the protocols, immediate protection measures, and available psychosocial support for staff—needs that are critical for safe, functioning learning environments.

Speaking on behalf of the DBE, Mr Sifiso Ngobese, Director for School Safety, stressed that the Department is actively gathering teacher input to guide the development of a new Anti-Bullying Manual. This resource will combine international best practice with the realities of South African classrooms, ensuring that policies are practical and implementable. He emphasized the DBE’s continuing collaboration with the police and other key stakeholders, noting that such partnerships strengthen the department’s ability to respond effectively to incidents of violence and bullying. “Teacher perspectives are not an afterthought; they are the foundation of our school safety strategy,” said Mr Ngobese.

The roundtable concluded with unified commitment to an informed, multi-sectoral response anchored in teachers lived realities. By systematically integrating teachers’ voices into policy and practice, the DBE and its partners aim to create safer, more supportive schools. The forthcoming Anti-Bullying Manual stands as a concrete step towards that goal, reflecting shared resolve to protect teachers and learners and to restore the integrity of the teaching and learning environment.