School environments are safe for teachers and leaners – GDE

On the eve of schools opening, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on behalf of the portfolio committee on community safety issued a statement on the urgent implementation of school safety recommendations to protect learners and teachers.

The Comaro Chronicle looked into different aspects of the portfolio committee’s statement.

There were only isolated incidents at schools in the south, including one last year in May during which there was a fight between a teacher and learners in Glenvista High School. The south had no incident since.

The publication posed pertinent questions to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) on how far they have progressed to implement the portfolio committee recommendations, as the deadline given is February 28; the administration of an ePanic button to learners and teachers; and the general state of safety in a school environment.

GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that school environments are safe for teachers and learners.

“Unfortunately, individual incidents often follow at people’s workplaces. However, we have school patrollers who look after the schools, whereas in other independent schools, the SGB hires private security, depending on their school budget.

“Our schools are a microcosm of society and what occurs in our society finds expression in our schools. We experience societal ills occurring within our school environment, evident in learner ill-discipline, learner-to-learner violence, learner-to-teacher violence, bullying, gangsterism, drugs and substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and underage sex.

“The GDE embarked on an awareness campaign through the Quality Teaching and Learning Campaign to mobilise communities and school stakeholders. This was to ensure that quality teaching and learning occurs in a conducive environment, where all role-players subscribe to the key deliverables,” explained Mabona.

He said the education department had partnerships with sister departments such as the Department of Social Development and the Department of Community Safety, and related NGOs: “We have partnered with these departments and NGOs to access expertise that we do not have within the department to deal with most of these social ills manifesting in our schools.

“The approach is proactive and reactive – school talks and camps inculcate good behaviour and awareness campaigns and referrals after incidents. We also do unannounced school searches, in partnership with SAPS and metro police, targeting high-risk schools.

“Dangerous weapons, drugs and alcohol are frequently retrieved during these search and seizure operations. The expertise of trained principals and SGBs is applied to formally charge learners, resulting in compulsory attendance of psycho-social and related programmes,” he noted.

Some of the school principals have this to say about this matter:

Diversity High principal Elize Bester: “We have a patroller on-site during school hours. South End Security is also on board to secure the school. On top of that, Moffat View SAPS is always available when need arises.”

Forest High principal Shaffy Steven: “The school has been free of violence, however, we can welcome the initiative of ePanic buttons because of the area we are in. The priority is the safety of the learners and teachers.”

Hoërskool Die Fakkel principal Jabulani Radebe: “We experience no fights at the school, however, we will welcome any intervention by the department.”

Principal of Mondeor High Heather Chapman: “We acknowledge the Gauteng Legislature’s call for community safety for learners and teachers. At Mondeor High, we have a security company that has a patrol car stationed outside the school and a panic button in the office. We had isolated discipline issues in the past that the school handled swiftly.

“We also have security guards on the premises. We will decide on whether classrooms need panic buttons for teachers and learners. Overall, we run a safe school,” she continued.

In light of growing concerns over school safety, Glenvista High School principal Dr Thabile Morgan shared: “Safety is our number one priority, and it is essential that every member of our school feels safe. Our school has been quiet lately. There have been no incidents of bullying or violence and we are glad to see the measures put in place are working.

“Glenvista High School has separated the junior learners from the seniors, which helped curb most of the bullying and violence from previous years.

“The school also uses local law enforcement and collaborates with the community to prioritise the safety of the learners and staff. We ensure our school security is always on duty and have panic buttons in the office. However, we are unaware of the ePanic buttons from the Gauteng Provincial Legislature,” explained Morgan.

The school allows learners and staff to report concerns confidentially and immediately, whether related to bullying, violence or mental health struggles.

“We have improved since the transition and the changes currently put in place are part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe environment for learning and teaching.”