Aim for a safer school environment
education, schools, correctional facilities, safety, plans, bullying, maintanace, department of communications, intellectuals
A safer school environment compliments a cognitive mind, says MEC for community safety Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane in a statement.
The Department of Education has put measures into place to deal with challenges that might affect teaching and learning in Gauteng schools.
Maloba stated that education is not only aimed at increasing one’s intellectual capacity but plays a critical role in shaping one’s attitude in life.
“It is therefore important to instil that culture in our young brothers and sisters, persuade them to excel and reach for the stars as this is the only way we can take this country and the economy to greater heights.
“This could only be realised in a learning environment conducive enough for learning and teaching, free from gangsterism, bullying, substance abuse and drugs.”
Some key safety initiatives:
- Establishment of school safety desks
- Deployment of patrollers as force multiplier
- Periodic and unannounced school searches for substances and dangerous weapons
- Correctional Facilities visits to act as deterrent to crime
- School safety talks that are solution driven, motivating and instilling discipline in the pupils
- Establishment of scholar patrols to ensure safe crossing of roads adjacent to schools.
Malobane says all this is aimed at assisting Gauteng schools to be in a position to detect, respond to safety threats and incidents through the development and maintenance of comprehensive and actionable school safety plans designed to address their specific needs.
She adds, “Although such initiatives are in place, bullying, crime, sexual abuse, substance abuse and other illegal activities are still prevalent in our schools. This calls for all role players to take an active role to ensure that our schools are indeed a better place for learning and teaching.”
Tips to detect unbecoming behavioural patterns:
- Parents to spend at least 30 minutes a day with your child, find out what they did at school, and who does the child associate with.
- Report any incidents – no matter how insignificant you may think it is.
- Blow the whistle on any illegal activities happening in and around the school.
- Remember the fundamental principle of Ubuntu : Your child is my child.
