Education

17.     (1)     The below stats are incidents reported to our Safe Schools Directorate. It Is not possible for us to provide accurate stats on the total number of incidents being reported off school premises as this falls under the jurisdiction of SAPS.

(a)    Learners:

Teachers:

(b)    Learners:

Teachers:

(2)     The Safe Schools programme falls under the Western Cape Education Department (WCED)’s Sub Directorate: Education Safety Management (ESM Sub Directorate).

Safe Schools’ Strategy and Core Programmes

Safe Schools follows a three-pronged strategy which focuses broadly on the safety of educators, learners and support staff. The Safe Schools programme is subdivided into three programmes, in line with its three-pronged strategy. These three sub-programmes are designed to create safe and effective environments conducive to teaching and learning. The sub-programmes include, namely Environmental Programmes, Developmental Programmes, and Systems Programmes.

Environmental Programmes

The Safe Schools Environmental Programmes focus on securing the physical structure of each school. As such, the environmental programmes are aimed at controlling and limiting access to school property. This is undertaken through the following measures:

• Prohibiting trespassing through the display of signs which prohibit trespassing. Once these signs are displayed, if any individual who is not entitled to be on the school property enters the school property, they can be charged with trespassing. The signs are provided by the ESM Sub Directorate.
• Safe-guarding educators and property and limiting access to the school premises via the administrative building. As part of a school’s safety plan, physical security measures are needed to ensure the safety of the school property and of learners, educators and other staff on the school premises. These physical security measures include fencing and proper gates with access control. Every year, the ESM Sub Directorate provides financial assistance to a select number of schools so that they can improve the security measures at their school. Schools seeking assistance need to apply for assistance. School which have applied are then vetted based on set criteria.
• Alarm systems. Another measure by which WCED’s Environmental Programmes seek to improve the physical safety of schools in the Western Cape is through advising schools to implement comprehensive alarms systems, linked to an effective Armed Response company.

Developmental Programmes

The Safe Schools Developmental Programmes aim to support, modify and influence parent, educator and learner behaviour at school.

• Interventions to address and mitigate risks to educators and their property, while at work. This includes procedures for addressing and responding to cases where a) learners pose a risk to the educator; and b) where outsiders pose a risk to the educator or where the educator is at risk while facilitating extra-mural activities. Further, the Developmental Programmes outline procedures for addressing and responding to cases where an educator’s property is at risk due to crime and violence, while the educator is at work. An Employee Wellness Programme is available to Educators via a toll-free number (0800 111 011).
• Interventions to support modify and influence behaviour. The Safe Schools programme has developed a number of Behaviour modification programmes which can be implemented in schools, particularly schools in high risk areas. The Safe Schools District Coordinators, Directorate Specialised Education Support, NGOs and CBOs can offer these programmes, on request. The behaviour modification programme topics include the following: a) effective behaviour management, b) creative and constructive approaches to conflict resolution, c) mediation in school communities, d) gang prevention education parent workshops, e) mentorship programmes, f) diversion programmes, g) youth development, h) victim empowerment, and i) multi-cultural education.

Systems Programmes

The Safe Schools Systems Programmes focus on incorporating a holistic approach to change how the whole school operates as far as safety is concerned^[1].

• Addressing and Responding to Gang Violence
  • The Gang Problem in the Western Cape. In certain areas of the Western Cape, gang violence poses a significant risk to learners and educators. This includes gang activity in the broader community which threatens learners and educators on their way to and from school, as well as gang activity which takes place on the school premises. Further, this gang activity not only threatens learner and educator well-being, but it negatively impacts on teaching and learning
• • Responding to School-Related Gang Violence. The WCED has outlined certain procedures to follow when it is determined that it is necessary to close a school as a result of gang violence. 
• Ensuring that schools are dangerous object free zones.

In keeping with Government Notice 22754 (No. 1040), all schools should announce that they are dangerous object free zones.  Further, in keeping with the Firearms Control Act’s (Act No.60 of 2000) provision for firearm free zones, all schools in the Western Cape should seek to ensure that they are firearm free zones. The WCED has a procedure which outlines how schools can go about ensuring that they are firearm free zones.

• Conducting searches for illicit substances and dangerous objects. If a policer officer has reasonable suspicion that there are weapons or illegal substances on a particular school property or on someone at the school, they are allowed to undertake a search of the school or the person, without needing a warrant to conduct the search^[2]. Further, the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996: Regulations for Safety Measures at Public Schools, Paragraph 4 (3), allows for a police officer, or in their absence, a principle or delegate to undertake a search of the school premises or a person on the school premises if they strongly suspect that their may be a dangerous object or illegal substances. It is important, however, to ensure that the conducting of searches and seizures is clearly outlined in a school’s Code of Conduct and Safety Plan. There are also very specific procedures which need to be adhered to if a search is conducted, to ensure that the rights of the individual being searched are in no way violated.

The WCED has effective strategies to address school violence, which include the following:

• building relationships between the parents, the learners and the broader community within which schools are located; and involving the local community in the school which includes during holiday and after school programmes
• training teachers, parents and learners to identify aggressive learners
• giving schools access to school social workers and educational psychologists to provide psycho-social support
• having an accountable school management
• giving learners a voice within the appropriate structures in the school, as learners need to be part of the solution
• building transparency and trust among learners, staff, the community and the school
• building a human rights culture in schools to make everyone feel welcome.

All attempts to curb violence occurring in schools have to extend beyond the school itself. Parental and community support, including prevention and early intervention, are the most reliable and cost-effective ways to support school safety.

Workshops/training/programmes have been held on the following:

• National School Safety Framework
• Occupational, Health and Safety
• Anti-bullying
• Creative & Constructive Approaches to Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation
• Substance Abuse and training on the use of non-invasive drug testing

The WCED is currently working within the ProvJoints: Priority Committee on School Safety (PPCSS) to develop a behaviour change campaign to create awareness among all concerned. The PPCSS functions within its mandate to address the safety and security challenges at schools collaboratively within all WCG departments. The PPCSS has approved a server based electronic Self Risk Assessment tool to be completed by schools which was developed with the aim to classify schools according the risk rating (high, medium and low).

The presence of school resource officers (SRO’s) assists the frustrations faced by the Department in dealing with school violence, particularly where there is a high rate of gangsterism. Currently SRO’s are deployed at 53 schools. The pillars underpinning community mobilisation in partnership with the DoCS are identified as participation and collaboration. The appropriate use of the Community Policing Forums and Neighbourhood Watches in collaboration with the SAPS yields good levels of stabilization. 

The WCED also adopts a target hardening approach in securing the property and assets of the school using the layered approach by providing perimeter fencing with restricted electronic access, burglar bars, metal detectors, and monitored alarm systems linked to an armed response service. 

Safe Schools engages with School Safety Clusters regularly within education districts where cluster support needs are discussed and addressed.

The School Safety Committee is a sub-committee of the School Governing Body (SGB) and thus the SGB training includes matters pertaining to School Safety.

Road safety is another issue confronting schools. Many children walk to school and too many children are involved in pedestrian accidents.  The WCED serves on the Provincial Road Traffic Management Coordinating Committee: Education & Communication Sub Work Group and as a collective appropriate prevention and pro-active measures are put into place.  Further to this, the following educational programme enhances road safety:

• • Communication and Promotional Material Update
  • Scholar Patrol Programme
  • Road Safety Debate Competitions
  • Participatory Education Techniques
  • Safer Journeys to School

The protocol signed between the Department of Basic Education and the South African Police Service to reduce crime and violence in schools comes with its own challenges, particularly that which is resource driven.  A working team between the WCED, DoCS: Watching Brief Unit and the NPA has been developed to draft a victim impact statement and witness testimony support structure with the purpose of ensuring appropriate support to witnesses and fast tracking the SAPS Cases which involve school crime.

The WCED Transform to Perform Strategy encourages a “values-driven” approach in schools. Schools that have adopted values programmes, have reported decreases in violence and anti-social behaviour.

Safe Schools Budget Allocation:

School Emergency Maintenance Fund Allocation:

(This is used to conduct emergency repair work – for example after incidents of burglary and vandalism to secure schools: