While learners prepared for a new year of learning the Kagiso Police wanted to ensure that their safety is a top priority.
Acting Kagiso Police station commander Colonel Peter Mabuso and his management team as well as sector managers and Public Order Policing accompanied the MEC for Social Development, Morakane Mosupyoe and her team on a visit to Mosupatsela Secondary School, Boipelo Secondary School and Tswelopele Educare (ECD).
This visit formed part of a school safety programme.
In a statement from Kagiso Police spokesperson Captain Solomon Sibiya, he said the MEC emphasised during the visit that safety at schools depends on the bonding between the public, Social Development and the police.
Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) spokesperson Feziwe Ndwayana said, “Education is the number-one priority for the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) in its social policy and in its endeavours for human development. As such the GPG remains committed to ensuring that effective learning and teaching take place in all schools in the province on the first day of the new academic year and all schooling days.
Since 2020, the pandemic has posed a great risk and caused anxiety among parents, learners, educators, and authorities. That is why the health and safety of all teachers, learners, and all staff in schools are important, and as such, the GPG has ensured that all schools have Covid-19 protocols in place for everyone’s safety.”
During her visits, the MEC stated, “Last year we as Social Development officially launched the School Social Work Programme because it had become increasingly clear over the years that the need for school social work services within the education system is essential in dismantling all social issues such as violence, crime, teenage pregnancies, and other social ills found within the schooling system.
“Through the signing of the MOU the Department of Social Development and Education established effective working relations to ensure that schools receive psychosocial support to improve conditions of learning, and address social, emotional and behavioural barriers to learning that impede learners’ functioning and development.”
The MEC encouraged learners and teachers to make use of these services to ensure success in their academics and to protect their futures.
Furthermore, the MEC encouraged teachers to speak about and educate learners about the disadvantages of teenage pregnancies, and emphasised that teachers can educate learners without victimising or ridiculing them to create a safe environment for learners to speak about these issues. The MEC further emphasised that to ensure that teenage pregnancies are eradicated both the boy child and girl child must be educated equally on the topic.
Captain Sibiya added that she also encouraged the girls by telling them that they do not have to rely on men for their success. She said they should take their school work seriously because it will be their ticket to a brighter future and becoming independent.
The Kagiso Police also placed the emphasis on the Adopt a Cop initiative in an effort to renew the relationship between the school’s management and the police. They wanted to ensure that there was no room for any form of disruptions to the learning process.
“Officers also checked and ensured compliance to Covid-19 protocols at schools. Reopening was successful and incidence-free at all schools,” Captain Sibiya said.
