Some school safety interventions “have failed,” Chiloane says

Chiloane addressed the community of Kliptown, south of Johannesburg, during a school safety meeting.

Chiloane said the “adopt a cop” initiative is one of the failed security attempts, saying police are not doing their job.

“We have carried out quite a few interventions to ensure the safety of our schools; firstly, the policeman adoption program – it does not work because the police do not perform their duties in it. It’s a good program. We want this to work. We need this program, but it doesn’t exist because the police are not doing what they should be doing.”

The MEC touched on a host of issues at the school, from bullying, theft and gangsterism.

Chiloane also blamed parents for the spike in gang-related incidents in schools, citing a lack of guidance and parental involvement as key factors in student misbehavior.

“We started gang fights and I still say I blame the parents because they don’t do what they should and take a keen interest in their children when they come to school. Even if there is a parents’ meeting, most of them don’t come,” Chiloane added.

At the same time, Chiloane praised private security staff at schools for their excellent work.

The MEC said there has been law and order in schools since security measures were introduced. However, the initiative is not long-term.

“This is not a sustainable intervention as there is no budget for it, but it is a desperate move by the Gauteng Department of Education to stabilize a school in a state of conflict.”

Chiloane further emphasized the need for the use of sign language, emphasizing the inclusion of all children and revealing that all Year 5 students in Gauteng schools will be taught basic South African Sign Language.

“We run a multi-certificate skills program where we teach all Year 5s how to communicate in basic sign language. All our children will be able to communicate with each other in the future,” Chiloane said.