The Western Cape Education Department said it would allocate over R76 million to improve security at all schools in the Cape for the 2023/24 financial year budget.
When presented to the legislature’s education standing committee, the budget included massive infrastructure investments, new teacher training initiatives and support plans totalling R29.55 billion.
In an effort to secure schools and promote a safer school environment, the WCED plans to construct secure fencing at 30 schools this year, as well as fund an additional 18 School Resource Officers for the next three years.
‘We are committed to constructing secure fencing at 30 schools every year for five years,’ the MEC confirmed.
‘We are also expanding the number of School Resource Officers in our schools, which are law enforcement officers stationed at our schools to tackle crime and safety matters.’
‘This year, we will fund an additional 18 School Resource Officers, bringing the total number of officers deployed in our schools to 46.’
‘And next year, we will add another 18. And the year after that, another 18, for a total of 82 officers in our schools.’
‘And we will continue our investment into access control, holiday security, emergency security, youth development, and crime prevention activities in our schools,’ he said.
Before we continue, it’s common knowledge that some of the most secure schools have parents paying high-cost school fees. Do you see one such place with this list of the most expensive schools in South Africa?
But let’s go on.
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According to EWN, this comes after an eight-year-old boy had his neck sliced with a box cutter by a Grade 3 learner at Stephen Road Primary School in Lotus River a few days before the end of the first school term.
It’s understood that the boy, who survived the incident, was standing in a queue waiting to wash his hands when he was attacked.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said a disciplinary process against the learner who stabbed his fellow pupil had been initiated, and added that both the victim and perpetrator were receiving counselling and support.
She added that many incidents involving learners were the result of behavioural issues established at home or within the community.
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