South Africa Department of Education’s health and safety requirements for schools in Durban North, La Lucia, Glenashley and uMhlanga

The department also considers it an apex priority and as a result, several policies and measures have been implemented to ensure the health and safety of learners, educators and relevant stakeholders.

What are the requirements as per the Department of Education?

As reiterated by the Department of Education, there is zero tolerance where violence, drug use and abuse, sexual harassment and any other criminal acts are concerned in schools, as these pose a significant threat to learning. There is also emphasis on the inculcation of values, ethics and a just and caring society not only within schools, but also in surrounding communities in South Africa.

Any non-compliance with such is viewed in a serious light by the department and any of these actions can deprive learners of an inherently constitutional right to life, education, equality and dignity. Several interventions aim to address elements concerned with the physical infrastructure of schools, including but not limited to:

• Adequate fencing
• Alarm systems
• Security
• Burglar proofing

This also includes all programmes for the building of resilient young people and the strengthening of partnerships with various stakeholders. A strong partnership exists with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to join schools with local police stations and to establish a functional School Safety Committee.

Schools are regarded imperative in instilling discipline while simultaneously ensuring safety. There is emphasis on Codes of Conduct for learners in public schools all over South Africa. Schools are therefore personally responsible to provide an environment that is conductive and delivers the highest quality of teaching. Schools must also ensure that the rights, health and safety of all learners are ensured, along with those of both teachers and parents.

The National School Safety Framework has been specifically developed and it serves as a management tool for provincial and district officials responsible for health and safety in schools for all participants including learners, principals, senior management team members, SGB members and teachers. It also helps to identify and manage any hazards, risks and threats of violence that may exist, or currently exists, in and around the school environment. In addition, a national strategy is involved in the prevention and the management of both alcohol and drug use amongst learners in schools.

It has been proven that schools are likely to mirror communities around them and by curbing drug and alcohol use in schools, it may lead to the minimisation and prevention of such within communities, which will render them safe for all citizens. As per the stipulations of the regulations for safety measures for all public schools, further discussed below, the Minister has declared that all public schools in South Africa are drug-free zones, as well as being free of dangerous weapons. Sexual harassment and violence have proven to have a negative impact on learning environments, and they create an atmosphere of fear and aggression.

Learners must not be subjected to such conditions during their learning experience. For this very reason, the guidelines for the prevention and management of sexual violence and harassment were developed and distributed to all schools in South Africa. These guidelines aim to provide schools and the communities around them with the necessary support and assistance. It also aims to encourage prompt response where cases of sexual harassment and/or violence against learners occur.

The guidelines clearly indicate how public schools must treat victims of both sexual harassment and violence. They also indicate the steps which must be taken in dealing with such cases in addition to what must be done to those who have committed such acts.

Regulations for safety measures at public schools

The regulations for safety measures at public schools apply to all public schools in South Africa, without any exemptions. The regulations are also not intended to support any such applicable law, and they cover a variety of topics in addition to stipulating the parameters that involve the following:

• The violence- and drug-free status of all schools.
• Access to public school premises.
• Exemption of certain persons.
• Visits to public schools by public as well as political office bearers.
• Visits to public schools by parents.
• School activities.
• Organisation of school activities.
• Consent.
• Transport.
• Physical activities.
• Emergency and fire procedures.
• Early release from school.
• Delegation of powers, and
• General regulations.

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Why must health and safety be managed effectively in schools?

Health and safety in schools must be managed to provide an environment conductive, healthy and safe, not just for learners, but for teachers, visitors and all other parties who may be affected by the activities at the school. Health and safety management is a paramount factor in schools, just as it is in any other industry or workplace.

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