Experts share advice on guarding schools against crime
Security experts have listed several basic precautions they believe education administrators, parents, and learners can take to address crime at schools.
This follows the rise in the number of criminal activities at schools, which have been burgled and where items such as computers and tablets worth millions have been stolen. The situation seems to be getting out of hand and a number of schools in the townships are remaining vigilant despite their vulnerability.
The burglaries have cost the Department of Education several millions or rand to mend or replace many of the burgled buildings and stolen items. Not only are criminals targeting schools, but learners at some of these schools have exacerbated the situation by violently turning against their tutors with impunity.
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Without a doubt, the challenge is that many schools, in the lower grades, as well as high schools, the very principles on which our education system was founded, have eroded. As a result, many places of learning may soon cease to be the havens they have always been.
School violence does not augur well for the future of the country. The nation cannot continue to stand by and watch without thinking of a solution to crime and other problems at our schools.
According to Jason Mordechai, the managing director of 7Arrows Security, over the past few month, there has been a rise in school break-ins, and he says it is frustrating and frightening that criminals have worked out a way to bypass the physical barriers to gain access to the school premises with such ease.
Mordechai says most of the crimes at schools are often committed at night when no one is around except for a security guard or two, armed with batons and torches. The impact of crime at schools is not confined to isolated incidents – many are broken into more than once, depending on what the burglars are after.
This, Mordechai claims, has had far-reaching consequences, including learners’ feelings of mistrust in the school, their attendance and their ability to learn.
Maanda Tshifularo, head of Dial Direct Insurance, says: “As parents, it is our responsibility to protect our children. While crime is not something we can control, we can ensure that we know as much as possible about the school environment to curb and finally deal with this growing lawlessness in our schools.”
Tshifularo shares the following tips to maximise the protection of your child at school:
• Know what security methods, procedures, and systems are in place at the school.
• Ensure that both you and your child know what to do in the case of an emergency.
• Ensure that the school you choose has a transparent flow of communication between staff and parents.
• Become familiar with the system used at the school in the event of violence or crime. Is trauma counseling provided, for example?
• What is the procedure for collecting children after school?
• Who do you inform if someone else is collecting your child from school?
• Where is the emergency meeting point at the school?
• Ensure your child has memorised the following emergency numbers:
– Nationwide Emergency Response: 10111
– Mobile Phone Emergency Hotline: 112
– Ambulance/Fire Brigade: 10177
• Download the Dial Direct Namola app onto your smartphone.
Mordechai warns that security systems should never be housed in the roof or ceiling. For added support, strong electric protection is advised on the inside of external gates and doors, and security sensors should be placed in sensitive areas, including the ceiling, to alert security if there has been a perimeter breach.
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Tshifularo adds: “Ultimately, understanding what protective measures have been put in place by the school to prevent crime and teaching your children how to access help in the case of an emergency is one step closer to protecting them during the school day.”
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