IN CONVERSATION WITHTERENCE KHALA
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The Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu together with the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube will jointly host a media launch and signing ceremony of the Collaborative Implementation Protocol on School Safety, commonly known as the "Safe Schools Protocol". This significant event signifies a renewed and strengthened commitment by both departments to ensure safe and child-friendly learning environments across South Africa.
The Protocol aims to tackle the alarming rates of violence, crime, and insecurity prevalent in schools. Recent SAPS data for the 2023/2024 financial year highlighted 28 murders within basic education institutions, with nearly half occurring in KwaZulu-Natal and 46% involving learner-on-learner violence. Additionally, two-thirds of reported rapes in schools involved learner-on-learner violence, and over 11,000 burglaries were recorded.
The Protocol emphasises shared responsibility, integrating various stakeholders into the safety ecosystem. An accompanying Workplan, providing practical, measurable, and urgent activities, including joint school safety audits, updating standard operating procedures, and ensuring compliance with laws regulating liquor outlets near schools has also been developed.
The Protocol aims to tackle the alarming rates of violence, crime, and insecurity prevalent in schools. Recent SAPS data for the 2023/2024 financial year highlighted 28 murders within basic education institutions, with nearly half occurring in KwaZulu-Natal and 46% involving learner-on-learner violence. Additionally, two-thirds of reported rapes in schools involved learner-on-learner violence, and over 11,000 burglaries were recorded.
The Protocol emphasises shared responsibility, integrating various stakeholders into the safety ecosystem. An accompanying Workplan, providing practical, measurable, and urgent activities, including joint school safety audits, updating standard operating procedures, and ensuring compliance with laws regulating liquor outlets near schools has also been developed.