JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has said protecting schools is a shared responsibility.
Maile briefed the media on plans to curb issues affecting Gauteng schools.
He said issues around bullying, gender-based violence and gangsterism have been of great concern.
The department has embarked on a campaign called - it takes a village to raise a child.
“Violence, gangsterism, bullying, substance abuse, gender-based violence, vandalism and criminal activity around schools were repeatedly raised. The program of action strengthened Safe Schools intervention and cooperation with SAPs, community policing forums, NGOs and communities.
“Work is also being driven on anti-bullying interventions and misconduct measures while school safety matters are being assigned to the responsible education support and curriculum functions.
“The purpose is to move from responding only after incidents occur to prevention, early intervention, clear escalation and coordinated action around high-risk schools. Communities themselves remain essential to the solution. Protecting a school cannot be left entirely to government.
“The communities must help identify criminal activity, protect public infrastructure, support learner discipline and refuse to normalize drug dealing, vandalism and violence around schools."