Durban — KwaZulu-Natal Legislature leaders have addressed the escalating violence and destruction of property in schools.
The recent burning of a school after a teacher confiscated a pupil’s cellphone, the torching of a teacher’s vehicle and safety concerns were debated in the legislature on Thursday.
The ANC’s chairperson on Education, Sifiso Sonjica, said a summit on school safety would allow people to ask questions and to learn from those who have the know-how to fight school violence.
Sonjica called for a debate on an indaba to find a solution.
“If laws are not the answer, then what do we do to start stemming the tide of youth violence? Do we blame it on parental indifference, apathy, violent movies, dysfunctional schools or some other course?” Sonjica asked.
He said role-players must address cellphone policies and how to upgrade the school code of conduct.
The DA’s spokesperson on Education, MPL Imran Keeka, said a similar debate was held in July 2019.
He said a school safety initiative should strive to create centres of excellence with strong community links, quality learning and teaching, and effective management and governance, and address the root causes of crime and violence.
Keeka also called for an audit of school fences. He said any school safety programme would be incomplete “if we do not add occupational health and safety training; substance abuse training, conflict management and peer mediation and, lastly, youth development trauma support”.
Keeka disagreed with an indaba, saying it was a waste of time, energy and money. He said hot spots needed to be identified this year. He also raised concerns about liquor outlets and other vices near schools.
“A code of conduct banning cellphone usage during school hours must not only be enforced, but parents and communities need to be educated about the harm this does during school time,” he added.
Keeka called for solutions on pornographic material being circulated among learners, and schools complicit in hiding sexually-related crimes.
Minority Front leader MPL Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi said the growing violence was due to the collapse of the safe schools programme, initiated in 2007.
“We have conflicting laws that enable school violence: permitting drinking from 18 years and extending the schooling age until 21 years.”
Thakur-Rajbansi said the key stakeholders were the SAPS, the National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders, Education officials, the school management team, SGBs, parents and learners.
“This lack of engagement has rendered schools and educators helpless. The stop-and-search initiative becomes necessary now,” she said.
Thakur-Rajbansi said tuck shops must be inspected.
“All these areas were pointed out by school management as weak links. The SAPS has to crack down on gangs. Parents must be provided with platforms to engage with schools.”
ANC MPL Thulani Xulu said consequences must be enforced and learners guilty of misconduct must not be enrolled at other schools.
IFP MPL Thembeni Mthethwa said the lack of security allowed a pupil to walk into a school with petrol to burn a car.
“We have called for metal detectors and security personnel at schools. This will deter learners from bringing weapons to school. If the police were active on a daily basis, learners wouldn’t bring weapons to school,” he said.
Daily News