Back to school: How to keep your kids safe — Saps tips for parents and teachers

After a week of rest, students returned to school on Tuesday, 8 April, as the second term of the year commenced.

As classrooms fill up again, the South African Police Service (Saps) urged parents and teachers to prioritise student safety.

“School safety is often a critical obstacle to learning. Schools are encouraged to establish and maintain a safe school committee,” Saps said.

ALSO READ: Gauteng schools face scrutiny over language and admissions policies

Tips for parents to protect Children

Children spend more time at school than anywhere else other than their home.

Saps outlined the following steps parents can take to protect their children at school:

• Talk to your children
• Teach your children that fighting is wrong
• Keep an eye on your child’s internet use
• Ask about the safety and emergency plans
• Play an active role
• Map out a safe route for children travelling to and from school
• Teach children to follow traffic signals
• Teach children not to talk to strangers
• Encourage children to walk in groups
• Teach them emergency numbers

“Parents can make going to school a safer and more valuable learning experience for their children,” it said.

ALSO READ: DA claims corruption in R9 billion school nutrition tender in Gauteng

Safety tips for teachers

Teachers also play a crucial role in maintaining a secure learning environment. Saps recommended the following measures:

• Enforce zero-tolerance policies
• Enforce drug- and gun-free zones
• Policies that declare that anything illegal off school is illegal on school
• Engage students in maintaining a good learning environment
• Develop protocols between the Saps and the school about ways to share information on and handle at-risk students
• Provide referral services for pupils who are depressed or otherwise under stress
• Involve students in designing and running programmes such as peer assistance, School Crime Watch programmes
• Establish a safe school committee to oversee the development and implementation of initiatives.

ALSO READ: Basic Education Employment Initiative: Here’s how many opportunities are coming

Key school calendar dates for public schools

According to the Department of Basic Education (DBE), term one ended on 28 March, giving students a 10-day break.

Term two is set to run for 59 days, with only 51 school days. 27 June 2025

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the key dates on the 2025 school calendar to help parents stay ahead of the game.

TERM 1:

• Schools start: 15 January 2025;
• Schools close: 28 March 2025;
• Public holidays: New Year’s Day (1 January 2025), Human Rights Day (21 March 2025); and
• School holidays: 29 March to 7 April 2025.

Second term:

• Schools start: 8 April 2025;
• Schools close: 17 June 2025;
• Public holidays: Good Friday (18 April 2025), Family Day (21 April 2025), Freedom Day (27 April 2025), Workers’ Day (1 May 2025), Youth Day (16 June 2025);
• Special school holidays: 29 April to 2 May 2025; and
• School holidays: 18 June to 8 July 2025.

Third term:

• School start: 22 July 2025;
• School closes: 3 October 2025;
• Public holidays: National Women’s Day (9 August 2025), Heritage Day (24 September 2025); and
• School holidays: 6 to 10 October 2025.

Fourth term:

• School start: 13 October 2025;
• School closes: 10 December 2025;
• Administration days: 11 to 12 December 2025; and
• Public holidays: Day of Reconciliation (16 December 2025), Christmas Day (25 December 2025), Day of Goodwill (26 December 2025).

NOW READ: ‘Zero Tolerance’ – Education department responds to shocking revelations