Question NW1025 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
31 May 2021 - NW1025
Mkhonto, Ms C N to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What (a) is the extent of bullying in South African schools and (b) steps has her department taken to protect both learners and teachers against bullying?
Reply:
a) The recently released Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) Report (2019) indicates that 29% of Grade 5 learners and 18% of Grade 9 learners reported being bullied on a weekly basis. The most cited form of bullying is verbal, followed by physical, and then cyber bullying.
b) The National School Safety Framework remains the basic education sector's primary strategic response to violence and bullying prevention in schools. The Department of Basic Education is also rolling out crime awareness campaigns, working with Community Policing Forums and the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign. Newly elected School Governing Bodies are trained, in order to strengthen School Safety Committees, as well as Codes of Conduct for learners. The Department of Basic Education is currently implementing a bullying prevention programme, together with a range of government and civil society actors to address the scourge of bullying, including cyber-bullying, in our schools.