Raise voices, not phones

AS MANY cases of bullying go unreported, the Western Cape Education Department is unable to intervene, Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said yesterday at an event for the “Raise Your Voice, Not Your Phone” campaign at Westridge Secondary School in Mitchells Plain.

The campaign was launched in August at Beacon Hill Secondary School to address the effects of bullying in Western Cape schools.

Schäfer said it was important to run advocacy and awareness campaigns regarding the dangers of bullying, and address how to combat it.

“It is crucial that the rights of learners are respected and protected and that learning environments are created where learners can, free from abuse, make full use of their learning opportunities,” she said.

Schäfer highlighted forms of bullying, including social media, and said any pupil or parent who has gone through such abuse knows the pain and trauma it can bring.

“It can lead to depression, anxiety, self-harming and, in some cases, even suicide.”

She said pupils are using social media to either tease, embarrass, intimidate or torment others, and “once something is in cyberspace, it is there forever”.

“This year, we want all our schools to celebrate and encourage the diversity, uniqueness and talents of all our learners in the province, no matter what their circumstances.

“As a department, we strive to foster the values of respect and tolerance,” Schäfer said.

Four days ago, a 13-year-old pupil from Pretoria North committed suicide after she was allegedly bullied by friends on WhatsApp.

Sinoville Crisis Centre spokesperson Sonja Carstens said the pupil allegedly distributed an image, which was forwarded on WhatsApp.

“It is alleged that other learners teased the girl about the image,” Carstens said.