Latest news with #CollaborativeImplementationProtocol
IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
New Safe Schools Protocol aims to combat violence in classrooms
During a media briefing Basic Education Minister , Siviwe Gwarube, and Police Minister Senzo Mcunu said rude and violent learners will no longer be tolerated in classrooms. Image: Genevieve Serra/Independent Newspapers Going back to basics to where rude or violent learners inside the classroom will not be tolerated, and protecting teachers and vetting them against the sexual predators list. There are the strategies put forward, following the joint launch of the Collaborative Implementation Protocol on School Safety by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, together with Minister of Police Police, Senzo Mchunu, on Tuesday. The Safe Schools Protocol aims to tackle the alarming rates of violence, crime, and insecurity prevalent in schools. SAPS data for the 2023/24 financial year highlighted 28 murders within basic education institutions, with nearly half occurring in KwaZulu-Natal and 46% involving learner-on-learner violence. Additionally, two-thirds of reported rapes in schools involved learner-on-learner violence, while over 11 000 burglaries were recorded. The protocol is set to emphasise shared responsibility, integrating stakeholders such as civil society organisations, parents, school governing bodies, and learners into the safety ecosystem. Mchunu said they identified 283 schools nationally that were located in hotspots and that visible policing would be beefed-up in those communities. He said SAPS would also build a relationship with the school body. Gwarube outlined five key commitments to the safer schools strategy, which aimed at strengthening safety for both learners and teachers. She said each school would be connected with its local police station and be supported by a School Safety Committee which will be comprised of the principal, School Governing Body and a police officer. A crime prevention programme is expected to be rolled-out to focus on gender based violence and to cyber bullying, among others. Police will also be deployed at hotspot schools, while the process of vetting will be improved and the National Sexual Offenders Registry made available. Gwarube said principals would be educated on what to do next when there was an incident of violence or whether a teacher was found to be on the wrong side of the law. The media raised the question that teachers were becoming victims of learners and they were even being extorted.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Safe schools or war zones? Ministers unveil plan to end violence
According to the two ministers, the protocol formalises direct links between schools and their nearest police stations. The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube together with the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu launching the Safe Schools Protocol. Picture: X/@DBE_SA The Department of Basic Education (DBE) and South African Police Service (Saps) launched the revised Safe Schools Protocol on Tuesday, signalling a renewed and urgent effort to curb rampant crime and violence in schools. Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu jointly unveiled the Collaborative Implementation Protocol in Cape Town, pledging to create safer, child-friendly learning environments amid shocking statistics of violence. 'The 2023-24 financial year saw 28 murders in basic education institutions, nearly half in KwaZulu-Natal, with 46% involving pupil-on-pupil violence. Two-thirds of reported rapes also involved pupils as both perpetrator and victim,' explained Gwarube. Mchunu called the protocol a 'shared commitment' and said it was more than just a document. 'For education to thrive, safety must be a given, not a privilege. 'Bullying, drug use, and sexual abuse have become prevalent and are breeding grounds for further criminality,' Mchunu said. Key measures in the protocol According to the two ministers, the protocol formalises direct links between schools and their nearest police stations. Each school is expected to form a functional safety committee that involves representatives from the police, teachers, and the governing body. 'We're introducing school-based crime prevention programmes, visible policing in hotspot areas, and regular safety audits. 'We'll also tighten compliance with laws regulating liquor outlets near schools and improve the vetting of staff,' said Gwarube. ALSO READ: WATCH: Video of pupil allegedly assaulted by KZN police during protest under investigation Five commitments to safer schools Gwarube outlined five key commitments at the heart of the revised protocol: Formal school-police links: Every school will be connected to a local police station, supported by a School Safety Committee comprising the principal, a staff safety officer, an SGB member, and a designated Saps officer. Crime prevention programmes: Schools will roll out in-house education campaigns targeting gender-based violence, bullying, gangsterism, alcohol and drug abuse, and weapons possession. Visible policing: Officers will be deployed around high-risk schools during busy periods like morning arrivals and afternoon dismissals. Victim-friendly spaces: The protocol mandates the creation of victim-friendly rooms and community response forums to better support vulnerable pupils. Staff vetting: All teaching and non-teaching staff will be vetted against the National Register for Sexual Offenders and the Child Protection Register. ALSO READ: SA pupils grab first place at Pan African Mathematics Olympiad Shared responsibility and urgency Both ministers emphasised the need for community involvement. 'Schools cannot do this alone. The police cannot do this alone. Safety is a community effort. We need buy-in from parents, pupils, SGBs, and civil society,' Gwarube stated. Mchunu said the Saps will continue to intensify visibility and integrate its existing Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS) into school policing efforts: 'Policing is not a one-department responsibility. Parents must be active participants in the fight against crime, starting in their homes. 'We're building capacity at police stations and engaging directly with pupils, especially around gangsterism, bullying and substance abuse,' said Mchunu. ALSO READ: School closes Friday for three-week break: Educational activities to keep kids busy 'Agents of change' In closing, both ministers acknowledged that violence in schools reflects broader societal breakdowns: poverty, inequality, and unemployment. Gwarube called on pupils, teachers and police officers to become agents of change. 'We know the burden [teachers] carry, being extorted in Nelson Mandela Bay, crossing gang-ridden streets in Mannenburg and Gugulethu. We stand with you.' 'Our children will look to you (police officers) not only for protection, but for inspiration. Go out there and protect our schools,' she concluded. NOW READ: Here's how many Gauteng schools damaged by fire have been repaired
