Publications
Partners
The Northern Cape Department of Education calls on parents to step into their role of responsiblity in supporting their children, providing guidance and educating them so that they can become law-abiding citizens.
and support intervention in terms of their roles and responsibility to provide guidance and parental support to their children and educating them to become law abiding citizens of our country.
This appeal follows three violent incidents at different schools over the past week, in which another one landed a teacher in hospital.
Concerns were raised about the alarming rate at which violence in schools is increasing, especially among learners labelled as ill-disciplined.
According to Geoffrey van der Merwe, spokesperson to the MEC, incidents of this nature have both a direct and indirect impact on the emotional well-being of learners.
“These incidents also have an impact on the valuable learning and teaching time in the classroom,” he said.
The department issued a stern warning to all learners and parents that no form of ill-disciplined or criminal behaviour will be tolerated at schools in the Northern Cape.
“Learners who are found guilty of this type of behaviour will be subject to due disciplinary processes and, if need be, will be expelled from the school.”
The department admits that a greater cooperation between all stakeholders is needed to change the current situation and prevent schools from becoming “war zones”.
For the time being, random searches are to be conducted at schools while the school safety protocol is finalised.
“It is unrealistic to expect police officials to be deployed and stationed at schools,” Van der Merwe said.
“A home is the first institution of learning, the place where moral values should be taught to ensure that learners go to school with good intentions to learn.
“We will not allow any learner to deprive a fellow learner of his or her right to education.
“Therefore we must work to ensure that learners and teachers go to school without fearing for their lives.”
