A safer school environment compliments a cognitive mind

Our late statesman once said: “Education is the best engine for personal development”. Education is not only aimed at increasing ones 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.

It is for this reason that the Department of Community Safety in partnership with Department of Education has put in place school safety programme to deal precisely with challenges that may otherwise hamper the teaching and learning. Some of the key initiatives are:

* 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 learners;

* Establishment of scholar patrols to ensure safe crossing of roads adjacent to schools.

All this is aimed at assisting Gauteng schools to be in a position to detect and respond to safety threats and incidents through the development and maintenance of comprehensive and actionable school safety plans designed to address their specific needs.

A policy document approved by the Gauteng Department of Education is used as a guideline tool and provides legislative framework on how to go about addressing the issue of school safety, coupled with the not yet finalised National School Safety Framework.

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.

The following tips will go a long way in detecting unbecoming behavioural patterns that may trigger attention:

* Parents to spend at least 30 minutes a day with your child, find out what they did at school, and who does the child associates with.

* Reporting any incidents, no matter how insignificant you may think it is.

* Blow the whistle for any illegal activities happening in and around the school.

Remember the fundamental principle of Ubuntu: Your child is my child.

Sizakele Nkosi, MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng