The Department of Basic Education (DBE) and LEAD SA have announced details of a major initiative to raise rape awareness and educate the 10, 2 million learners in South African schools.
Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, said “The collective rage in the country had to be turned into tangible action.”
The Minister said she has today issued a directive to all provincial education departments to instruct schools across the country to call special assemblies at 8h00 on Friday, 1 March.
“Following the singing of the National Anthem, we want principals, educators, learners or activists to address the assemblies for 15 minutes about rape and sexual crimes. The focus will be on education/awareness and more importantly what to do.
“We also want to appeal to our learners to report any form of abuse from anyone to the authorities,” said Minister Motshekga.
In his reply to the State of the Nation address in the National Assembly yesterday, President Jacob Zuma commended the Department of Basic Education for “looking at inculcating values of nationhood at an early age, promoting rights and responsibilities among children.
“We acknowledge and applaud the good work of many civil society organisations that are raising awareness about violence against women and many other issues affecting society,” President Zuma added.
“The DBE will provide guidelines for the talks to the education departments as part of the directive,” she added. In addition to these guidelines, NGOs are encouraged to assist with the mornings’ talks.
Rape response booklet and pledge
A pledge based on the Bill of Responsibilities, which includes a statement on violence and rape, will also be circulated and educators and learners are urged to adopt it at the assemblies.
A downloadable rape response booklet and a poster which will help to guide educators on how to cope with this sensitive topic will be available. The pledge will be available in all 11 official languages.
The DBE has called on all schools to prepare worksheets for learners about violent and sexual crimes. “We want boy and girl learners to complete these worksheets at home, with their families if possible, and return them to their teachers. It’s part of the education/awareness programme.”
The DBE said the school assemblies will be concluded by 8h30. Minister Motshekga said the initiative was “critical not only to highlight the rape bane but also to educate our children.”
“We have partnered with Lead SA like we did with the Bill of Responsibilities (BOR) and the Happy Birthday Madiba song. “1 March is the start of Human Rights Month. We need to also teach our youth about their rights and responsibilities as per the BOR,” said Minister Motshekga.
Lead SA said the partnership with the DBE will go a long way in heightening awareness and education.
“We also hope the 10,2-million learners will take the messages home so that society at large can act. The ‘StopRape’ message needs to reach every corner of South Africa.”
Lead SA said it encouraged active citizenry. “Let’s all unite and fight rape with one voice.”
After the pledge has been taken by the millions of learners on 1 March, we encourage each and every citizen to also adopt it. “Take it to your offices, factories and homes…Say NO to rape.”
Minister Motshekga called on civil society to support the “StopRape” initiative.
Proudly South African and Shout SA have already come out in support of the awareness programme.
Proudly South African says it will also include the messaging in its national “Ubuntu schools” campaign which was launched shortly after the gang rape of a Soweto teenager in April last year.
