School safety starts with the community – Gauteng Education MEC
Government, parents, the mayor and more collaborate on making schools safer.
Nothing and no one who disrupts learning will be tolerated.
These are the words of Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane during a School Safety Imbizo held at HTS Nic Diederichs THS recently. The aim was to bring together parents, educators, principals and key stakeholders from across the West Rand to address critical school safety concerns.
The MEC outlined strategies to safeguard high-risk schools and announced a partnership with the police as well as other law enforcement to enhance police visibility and response times.
The Gauteng Provincial Head for Visible Policing, Brigadier Mark Joseph, emphasised the need for a soft policing approach, stating that police should not instil fear in learners by brandishing guns and dogs on school premises.
He also clarified that the police should only conduct searches at schools upon request.
According to Mogale City Executive Mayor Lucky Sele, the role of community leadership in improving school conditions helps in solving broader societal issues that directly impact education.
The Gauteng Department of Education Director for School Sports, Zondi Nkuna, shared this sentiment, emphasising that active participation in sports helps learners avoid risky behaviour, criminal activities and peer pressure. He also highlighted that schools offer a variety of sports beyond just physical activity, fostering life skills and personal development.
Ultimately, the MEC issued a strong warning to political parties stating that any attempts to disrupt learning and teaching in Gauteng public schools would lead to arrests. This follows a recent incident where politicians were seen in a viral video declaring the closure of a school in Hammanskraal until certain issues were resolved.
The MEC also acknowledged that school safety challenges vary across different communities and that a one-size-fits-all approach would not be effective. He reiterated that the first step to resolving these issues lies within the community itself.
The Imbizo fostered open dialogue, reinforcing collaboration between the education sector, law enforcement, local government and communities to create safer learning environments across Gauteng.
