29 August 2007
In her State of the Province Address on 16 February 2007, Eastern Cape
Premier Nosimo Balindlela announced that the Department of Education in
partnership with the Department of Safety and Liaison would launch a School
Safety Programme this year.
A police report on the assessment of schools within 29 Police Station's
precincts in the Eastern Cape reflects the following crimes which are
prevalent: sodomy, gangsterism, assault, substance abuse, murder, rape, theft
and alcohol abuse.
In response to the prevailing challenge and the Premier's instruction, the
two departments will jointly host a Provincial Summit on School Safety to be
held at the Osner Hotel in East London on 30 and 31 August 2007 at 09h00.
The objectives of the summit are to:
* establish an integrated approach to enhance safety and security at schools
in the Eastern Cape
* reduce school violence
* mobilise communities to create a conducive environment for effective teaching
and learning.
The summit is expected to develop a School Safety Programme, which will
initially be piloted at 40 schools located in Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan and King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipalities.
The key focus areas of the School Safety Programme are infrastructure,
community mobilisation, anti-drug and substance abuse and school
environment.
Issued by: Ministry for Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape
Provincial Government
29 August 2007
