The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) today strikes a major blow to unsafe conditions in our schools. As a result of this programme, learners and our employees should feel safer arriving and leaving our schools.
Nearly 1 500 patrollers with accredited South African Police Service (SAPS) training, will work day and night, to secure and safeguard the 1 500 underperforming schools, no-fee schools and high risk schools in Gauteng. By end of 2012 over 6 000 patrollers will be deployed in the schools. Each school will get a maximum of six patrollers, depending on the risk factors associated with it.
Their duties are to control access and safeguard GDE premises, search cars and visitors, report on all incidents threatening learners and employees, work closely with school guards, and protect Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment.
Patrollers will be supplied with two-way radios, uniform, metal detectors and other equipment, and will be connected to a police vehicle to request backup when needed.
They will have a general supervisor, who will manage them and reduce the workload on principals. Supervisors will keep all records, attendance registers, pay sheet, worker’s contracts, etc.
This programme is part of the School Safety Strategy which is in line with the departmental strategic goal of ensuring that Gauteng has effective schools and learning institutions. The pillars of the safety strategy are:
- Pillar 1: Standardised school policy development and implementation
- Pillar 2: Psycho-social support and promotion of alternative forms of discipline
- Pillar 3: Advocacy programmes
- Pillar 4: Active law enforcement partnerships with the SAPS, Metro Police, Community Policing Forums and Community patrollers
- Pillar 5: Effectively securing the physical environs of schools
The patroller programme is part of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to create jobs focusing on women, youth, and people with disabilities. They will be paid a stipend. All patrollers sign an agreement regulating the engagement terms and a code of conduct which stipulate the do’s and don’ts.
They have been sourced from the databases of the Department of Community Safety (DCS) and SAPS. Patrollers are local to a police precinct and surrounding schools. No patrollers will be imported to the local community.
The patrollers have been screened by the Department of Community Safety, and they have received accredited training so that they can be employable beyond the project.
The GDE and DCS joint Project Management Team will monitor and evaluate programme to check adherence to terms and expected outcomes.
