Question NW2184 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
18 August 2023 - NW2184
Nodada, Mr BB to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) Whether she will furnish Mr B B Nodada with a list of schools that are located in high-risk communities in each province; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what manner of psycho-social support does her department offer the specified schools in the specified communities; (3) whether her department has engaged with the Departments of Social Development and Health regarding the placement of students of psychology, psychiatry and/or social work in the high-risk schools; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the engagements?
Reply:
1. A total number of 805 Schools is being prioritized for the provision of comprehensive Psychosocial Support (PSS) across the nine (9) Provinces. The list is hereby attached.
2. The package of PSS interventions provided in these schools is as follows:
2.1 Capacity building of School Based Support Teams on the School guide for Psychosocial Support.
2.2 Visiting Professional Nurses and Social Workers.
2.3 A Learner Support Agent (LSA) in each school.
2.4 Linkages with Community Based Organizations for referrals through a guided mapping process.
2.5 Childcare (ECD) Vouchers for young mothers.
2.6 Homework Support.
2.7 Keeping girls in schools programmes (Return to school programme support).
2.8 Gender Based Violence prevention programmes.
2.9 Linkage to Post-violence care services.
2.8 Debriefing services for educators and LSAs.
3. Placement of students of social work in schools is part of on-going discussions taking place as part of a Strategy for the placement of Social Services Professionals in Schools that is currently being led by the Department of Social Development. Placement of Psychology Students will be taken up with Universities as part of the development of the Mental Health App whose aim will be provision of counselling services to learners. Both these processes have started.