Teacher Appreciation Week: Calls for teachers’ safety
The safety of teachers is the topic this year as the nation observes Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6 to 10.
IN observation of Teacher Appreciation Week, the National Education Association has called for the public to stand with teachers and unite to take action and demand our leaders provide the resources and respect educators deserve.
According to the association, this is because every learner – no matter the colour of their skin or the ZIP code they live in – deserves educators who are caring and committed and have the resources they need to help every learner succeed.
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Under this theme, Caxton Local Media spoke to two teachers’ unions about how the safety of teachers can be effective in making the schools and classroom environment conducive to teaching and learning.
Sibusiso Malinga, who is the president of the National Teachers’ Union (Natu), said their wish is for schools to be treated like all government institutions when it comes to security.
“Institutions like hospitals and Home Affairs Offices have security guards and sometimes metal detectors – we believe that all schools should have that in place, and that is the duty of the employer.”
Malinga further stated that teachers ought to be protected from rowdy learners as there have been cases where teachers are attacked by learners.
“The issue of such learners goes back to discipline at home by parents/caregivers. Discipline is their main role in the learner’s life – no teacher’s safety should be compromised because of ill-disciplined learners.
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“Caregivers model behaviour to children – if parents and/or the community do not respect teachers, children are most likely to behave the same. A place where teachers are not respected is not conducive to teaching and learning,” he said.
Thirona Moodley of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) said that one of the ways to enhance the safety of teachers in schools is to review the school’s codes of conduct for learners and implement any necessary disciplinary measures.
“The threat to teachers’ physical safety is a concern and [undermines] the authority of the teachers and threatens the teacher-learner relationship. Learners must know there are serious consequences for their conduct. Teachers cannot work under these conditions. Parents must also play a role in holding their children accountable,” she said.
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