South Africa: Schools Must Become Safer for Girls, Says Pandor

January 8, 2008 – (AllAfrica) On the eve of a new school term, Education Minister Naledi Pandor has renewed her commitment to making schools in the country safer, focusing on sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

Speaking at the handing over of the Torch of Peace at Tshepisong Primary School in Roodepoort on Tuesday, Ms Pandor said: "We renew our commitment to safer schools programmes in our provinces."

She said in the coming months the department will reflect on the progress of existing programmes towards safer schools and the reduction of gender-based violence and sexual harassment.

"We commit ourselves to continue strengthening these programmes, and acknowledge that we still have many challenges to confront in making schools safer and happier places for our learners and educators," said the minister.

She said a particular focus would be placed on reducing sexual harassment and gender-based violence. "I want to re-focus on problems that girls face in schools."

The 'safer schools' campaign takes place within government's year-long campaign against gender-based violence.

Ms Pandor said it was the department's responsibility to build safer, child-centred schools across the country, adding that learners, parents, community leaders, teachers and police had to get involved.

The minister cited a number of programmes in place addressing the problems that girls experience at schools, namely the child-centred schools framework concept, in partnership with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

A child-centred school acts in the best interests of the children and is concerned about the whole child, including health, nutrition, well-being and safety, Ms Pandor explained.

"Another project is the implementation of our racial-integration strategy, which strengthens the ability of schools to create environments emphasising positive values and to prevent discrimination of all types," she said.

Referring to the murder of pupil Simon Mbele in October 2006, Ms Pandor said: "We will remember those people in our education system who have been affected by crime and violence."

Mr Mbele was a 19-year-old pupil from Forest High School in Rosettenville. He was stabbed four times allegedly by a 14-year-old school mate and he later died on the scene. She said the spate of murders, at or on the way to and from school in 2006, was a call to action for the education sector.

"We held a colloquium at the national level and many further meetings were held in the provinces. We expedited a new national strategy for containing violence in schools and we set in [motion] a pilot project for securing the most vulnerable school in each province," she said.

Ms Pandor said new legislation had also been discussed and was still a work in progress. "Schools now have stronger powers to search each pupil for weapons and drugs."

She said she hoped in the coming year more information regarding disruptive pupils would also be gathered.

"Let the Torch of Peace act as a symbol of continued action and commitment to preventing crime and violence in our society and in our schools in all its form. I receive this torch today to start our 'safer schools' campaign."

The Torch of Peace travels through various departments which are engaged in national campaigns. It was handed over by Transport Minister Jeff Radebe at the close of the successful Transport Department's road safety campaign. The torch is intended through some of their campaigns to instil a strong sense of humanity, preserve lives and avoid violence, crime and accidents wherever possible.

From:http://allafrica.com/stories/200801080642.html