School safety plan launched

2008-02-22 17:32

Johannesburg - The safe, caring and child-friendly schools programme "Let the Children Learn and Play", was launched by Eastern Cape Education MEC Johnny Makgato in King William's Town on Friday.

It is hoped the programme, which will see the Education Department working with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), will address safety and security and other key issues hampering the attainment of quality education in South African schools.

In 2007, Education Minister Naledi Pandor identified nine schools - one in each province - facing safety challenges.

According to Unicef spokesperson Yvonne Duncan, safety infrastructure and support programmes had been provided to these schools with the support of the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP).

"All the nine schools were provided with fences, security lights and gates, security guards and some with hand-held metal detectors," she said.

"In addition, management and learners were provided with training programmes aimed at assisting them to deal with challenges of crime and violence."

The provincial launch on Friday was a continuation of the support already provided.

The programme supported the Child-Friendly Schools Framework (CFS), first conceived as a way of translating the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the South African Constitution and other human rights instruments, to improve school management and classroom practice.

"The programme will be implemented by the National Department of Education in partnership with Unicef, to support progress towards the attainment of quality education," said Duncan.

- SAPA