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EDUCATION Activist Hendrick Makaneta called on government to address the matter of safety in schools across the country. This comes in the wake of news reports that a Grade 12 learner was stabbed six times, allegedly by another learner at Kebonang Secondary School in Mmabatho near Mafikeng, the North West Education department said on Friday.

“As activists in the terrain of education, we believe that government should take practical and visible steps to bring order in our schools. We have lost a lot of lives already in the terrain of education.” Makaneta said.

Makaneta said that they had sent a letter to Basic education minister last year, cautioning her about the dangers that learners faced in schools and asking for a meeting to deliberate on matters of schools’ safety.

“We think that the president should bring all stakeholders under one roof to come and deliberate on what needs to be done to ensure that there is maximum safety within the schooling environment. We have no intention of playing politics when it comes to the untimely deaths of learners. We believe that the department of basic education should take full responsibility for the unfortunate incidents in our schools.” Makaneta added.

The department should ensure that teachers are taken through intensive workshops that can help them to uphold the duty of care. Teachers should know that in the absence of parents of learners at school level, they are automatically parents.

“We call on the department to ensure that all schools observe the duty of care starting in the morning when learners arrive at school. Teachers should be visible at the school gates; they should also be visible during break at the school grounds. Male teachers should be visible at boys’ toilets and female teachers should not leave girls toilets unattended.” Makaneta added.

We also want to reiterate that cameras should be installed in all the schools in order to deter people from engaging in unlawful acts within the school environment. To this effect we will be asking for a meeting with President Ramaphosa to further engage and find solutions.

“No child should feel unsafe in the school premises. We must be ready to spend more resources for the safety of our learners. If we could provide free higher education for students, there is no reason why we should not keep our learners safe. School safety remains the responsibility of government” Makaneta said

Issued by Education Activist Hendrick Makaneta