The Alex community has been urged not to let crime impede progress made in the delivery of education.
This was said by the Gauteng MEC for Finance Barbara Creecy at Sankopano Community Centre in response to residents’ concerns about break-ins that continue to occur at the township’s schools, especially on weekends and during school holidays. There was one instance at KwaBhekilanga Secondary School where a security guard was tied up before a robbery.
Creecy said the provincial government spent R30 billion on education in the province, annually, and any loss of educational assets was a blow which should concern residents. “The loss through crime is unacceptable and the community which lives with and knows the criminals should develop concrete plans to handle this challenge… to protect all technical and other school assets, property, and also the children and teachers.”
She added that councillors and the Community Police Forum should convene special meetings to show commitment about security, as only these stakeholders and residents could best protect the schools’ assets.
Creecy encouraged parents to improve their level of commitment to the education of their children, despite their social conditions. A single parent herself, Creecy said it was a fallacy that single parent households couldn’t cope with the responsibility of educating their children, as many had proved otherwise.
“Set goals and expectations for your children’s education, and work towards them with due pressure and gentle support… as only they are responsible to better their own lives.”
She added that the department of education was committed to helping improve teaching and learning by the introduction of the Secondary Schools’ Improvement Programme, but its success also depended on parental involvement.
