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The Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, wishes to announce two new commitments as part of the department’s efforts to end violence in South African schools.

First, the Department of Basic Education will take steps to ensure that all teachers are explicitly trained in values, human rights and citizenship. Training will take place through universities, with a specific focus on teachers of Life Orientation. This follows recent comments by the Minister regarding the importance of Life Orientation in helping learners to engage with the issues and attitudes that often lead to violence.

Secondly, as from April this year the department has overseen the implementation of the National School Safety Framework for Safer Schools, as an expansion of the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning Programme, in partnership with the Centre of Justice and Crime Prevention and supported by the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This programme seeks to enhance school culture by improving school management and classroom practice, and includes the promotion of essential rights and values. It has been piloted with great success in several provinces and will now reach all schools.

It is acknowledged that there have been recent disturbing examples of school violence, as well as widespread public support for action, as evidenced by the online campaign signed by over 25 000 citizens.

"Addressing school violence is the responsibility of all of us. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of young people within our educational institutions, and the department is committed to playing a leadership role," said Minister Motshekga.

A key part of the solution is the improvement of the Life Orientation Curriculum, including better training that equips teachers for success.

"We also need school cultures that value Life Orientation and serve to combat violence, hence the national expansion of the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning Programme initiative," she said.

A major priority for the department is providing school environments that protect learners at all times, and these new commitments build on the work already being done in this area.

An inter-branch committee, within the department has recently been established to oversee the improvement of Life Orientation over the next 5 years, and work has begun on creating higher quality open source Life Orientation textbooks.

In addition, the department has committed to working with the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP) to conduct further investigations into the full extent of school violence. This will ensure that all necessary steps are being taken to protect, nurture and empower our youth.

"Furthermore I call on all parents to embrace their responsibility as their children’s primary caretakers and role models. The home is where values such as compassion, tolerance and respect – and associated behaviour – are learnt and reinforced," said Minister Motshekga.

The Minister acknowledges that teachers and other stakeholders in the education system often do admirable work in guiding and developing learners in our schools, but parents and other caregivers must also take active charge of their roles in raising their children to become responsible and caring citizens."

"I faith that all our methods will ultimately succeed and I sincerely thank all the many teachers, principals, parents and other education stakeholders, who demonstrate patriotic and unwavering dedication to ensure our children’s wellbeing is protected," said Motshekga.

Issued by Department of Basic Education