Question NW3849 to the Minister of Basic Education
06 December 2017 - NW3849
Boshoff, Ms SH to ask the Minister of Basic Education
With reference to her reply to question 2502 on 11 September 2017, are schools required to check the names of staff members appointed by school governing bodies (a) against the Child Protection Register in terms of Section 126 (1) (a) of the Children’s Act or (b) to conduct a general background check before employment; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the consequences for schools that do not undertake such checks?
Reply:
A) As stipulated Section 126 of the (1) (a), School Governing Bodies are required by law to check both the names of the prospective and existing employees on the Child Protection Register.
b) As indicated in the reply to question 2502, there is currently no legal or regulatory obligation requiring the School Governing Bodies as employers to conduct a general background check of prospective employees. The requirement regarding conducting suitability checks as stipulated in the Public Service Regulations, Part 4, section 57 (1) (d) only applies to State-paid employees. However, SGBs as employers and as part of good practice, are encouraged to develop recruitment policies which will include the requirement of conducting background checks.