MEC conducts surprise visit to school
NJ HEYNS High School in Kimberley yesterday received a surprise visit from the Department of Education, which focused on school safety and staying safe during the festive season.
During yesterday’s visit, the MEC for Education, Martha Bartlett, said that many pupils in local communities were exposed to unwanted interference that had a negative impact on their education.
“Societal challenges that manifest themselves within our communities are definitely spilling into our schools. In most cases, it is the safety and well-being of our pupils that are affected. This situation necessitates us, as government, and every member of society to integrate and collaborate all our efforts to ensure that we alert all our pupils to the dangers and risks out there, especially as we approach this festive season,” Bartlett said.
She added that pupils often fell prey to drug pedlars, teenage pregnancy, alcohol, gangsterism and abusive households and that these “societal ills” were derailing their focus on their school work, while also tarnishing their aspirations and dreams, and could lead to them dropping out of school.
“We deem it necessary to have these engagements with pupils, targeting various schools and being proactive in alerting them to the dangers that await them outside the school premises. As parents, we send our children to school, expecting them to be safe, whether inside or outside the school premises,” Bartlett added.
She encouraged pupils to have mutual respect for their fellow pupils and teachers,
She also encouraged parents to instil good discipline and values in their children, to always know the whereabouts of their children, not to send children to the shops unaccompanied, to ensure that they used cellphones responsibly, reported behavioural changes immediately to school principals, supported their children with their school work and become actively involved in the lives of their children.
“The Northern Cape Department of Education, together with all our partners, will continue with unannounced visits to schools to ensure the safety of teachers and pupils at all our schools. We view all our schools as centres of excellence and safe havens for pupils and teachers.
“It is our plea, that every member of our society takes hands in protecting our pupils against all forms of abuse and social ills which may influence and tarnish the future of our youth.
“As we approach this festive season, our pupils will be the vulnerable targets in our communities, and they’ll look up to us as parents and community members to protect them,” Bartlett concluded.