Question 788
Mr R B Bhoola (MF) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) What plans does she have to deal with the challenges schools have in funding its security?
(2) What are her plans to give schools policy directives with regard to the form of disciplining of learners after the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools?
Reply:
(1) Provincial departments of education have incrementally implemented the provisioning of security officers at schools. The appointment of security officers focused on schools located within the 169 “hotspot areas” (areas identified by South African Police Service (SAPS) as areas with high crime rates). The Northern Cape has appointed security officers at 72 schools, in Gauteng 43 schools have received security officers and in the Western Cape the Bambanani Project in partnership with community safety has been extensively implemented in schools within the “hotspot areas” A total number of 174 schools are currently benefiting from the Bambanani Project. In KwaZulu-Natal the responsibility for the appointment of security officers at schools falls within the ambit of
human resource management and it is estimated that 2000 schools have
benefited from this programme.
The Free State, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo provinces rely on schools to appoint private security agencies where the need arises.
(2) Since the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools the department has developed guidelines for teachers on alternatives to corporal punishment. The document was distributed to provinces and extensive training for principals, teachers and SGB members was done in all provinces. Additionally the department has partnered with Girls and Boys Town to training nine schools (one school per province) presenting with high levels of crime and violence on positive discipline and classroom management. This training started in February 2010. It is envisaged that provinces will roll out this programme to more schools where teachers experience challenges regarding the behaviour of learners.
The department has also developed and distributed to provinces an example code of conduct for learners at all public schools to serve as an example for schools to develop their own context specific codes of conduct for learners.
Issued by: Department of Basic Education
23 March 2010
Source: Department of Basic Education (http://www.education.gov.za/)
