Question NW454 to the Minister of Basic Education
06 September 2019 - NW454
King, Ms C to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)Which schools in the Republic have been declared hotspots for crime and violence; (2) whether there are any interventions to curb crime and violence at the specified schools; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. See the attached list of schools declared as hotspots for the 2018/19 financial year.
Province |
No of Schools |
KwaZulu-Natal |
202 |
Western Cape |
147 |
Free State |
90 |
Limpopo |
22 |
Gauteng |
251 |
Northern Cape |
40 |
Eastern Cape |
99 |
North West |
80 |
Mpumalanga |
414 |
TOTAL |
2 345 |
2. The National School Safety Framework (NSSF) remains the Department of Basic Education (DBE) strategic response to school violence;
- It is a comprehensive approach that coordinates and consolidates all school safety interventions in the sector;
- It is based on a social ecological systems model which locates the school within its broader community;
- It relies on collaboration and partnership; and
- The INSPIRE framework provides further granularity to the NSSF focusing on seven (7) areas: Implementation and law enforcement; Norms and values; Safe environments; Parent and care-giver support; Income and economic strengthening; Response and support services; and Education and Life Skills.
The DBE also supports provinces to implement a number of interventions in response to crime and violence in schools; including for example:
- Strengthening the School Safety Committees through training to adequately respond to the challenges school face;
- Bullying prevention programmes roll-out in Eastern Cape
- Anti-gangsterism joint intervention programme with South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Northern Education Region – Port Elizabeth;
- In partnership with SAPS, searches and seizures are randomly held to seize dangerous weapons in school campuses;
- Moral rejuvenation seminars held in all North West Education districts in partnership with the QLTC in the Office of the Premier;
- District Safety Coordinators trained on Protocols on prevention of Corporal Punishment and Sexual Abuse and Harassment of leaners in schools;
- After the National Summit on School violence hosted by Minister in 2018, five provinces (Gauteng, North West, Free State, Western Cape and Eastern Cape) have convened provincial summits to roll-out the Declaration and implementation of the recommendations to enhance safe learning environments and instil a culture of respect and discipline among leaners and educators.