Free State Education MEC Tate Makgoe has finally broke his silence on the recent shooting of Tourism and Business Studies teacher, Mr Johan Jordaan by a learner at Sasolburg High School and stabbing of learners at Mamello Secondary School in Virginia and Unity Primary school in Bloemfontein.
Makgoe condemned in strongest possible terms on Facebook and Twitter incidences of violence in public schools.
“Schools should be the centres of learning and teaching, not the sites of bullying, gangsterism and criminality”; Makgoe tweeted.
Makgoe called on education stakeholders who include parents and community members to unite and stand against any form of school based violence.
“Even if we installed the state-of-the-art- security in our schools, we will not win the war against the scourge of school violence unless parents and communities come on board and take responsibility for instilling a sense of what is right and wrong in their children. Schools should not be the only place where children are taught morals as this should begin at home”, Makgoe said.
“We are deeply hurt by violent behavior of a Sasolburg High School learner and the gang-related violence at Mamello Secondary School and Unity Primary School and we urge affected schools to take decisive disciplinary action against transgressors”; said Makgoe.
Makgoe asserted that the department is doing everything in its power to educate and provide safe and caring environment in our schools.
“All learners should abide by their schools’ code of conduct”; he said.
Makgoe singled out bullying as one of the causes of violent crime in schools, adding that it constitutes a significant challenge for school safety and directly undermines the creation of an enabling school environment that supports personal growth and development.
As part of the school safety programme, the department has already started to implement an anti- bullying strategy. There are already 60 officials trained in helping schools to prevent bullying and another 60 officials will be trained in due course. These officials will then cascade this training to 10 schools each over the next year.
Schools should have a safety committee that is made up of officials from the Departments of Education, Social Development and Health, school principals, South African Police (SAPS), teachers, learners, and parents.
To address school based violence and crime generally, the Department of Education and the SAPS have entered into a memorandum of understanding whereby schools are linked to police stations and designated police officers to form part of the schools safety committee, where they should play an active role in creating safe and child friendly schools.
Makgoe urged schools to ask learners to take the school pledge launched earlier this year, which talks to the rights and responsibilities of school learners as well as to familiarise learners with the Bill of Responsibilities for the Youth of South Africa, which encourages children and youth to take responsibility for their futures.
He also wishes the two learners who were stabbed and the teacher who was shot a speedy recovery.
Enquiries:
Howard Ndaba
Cell: 079 503 5485
