Safety in Schools

It has been a week of tragic events in the education sector in South Africa, as schools across the country opened for the new calendar year news broke that a thirteen – year old boy had drowned while on a school camp. Questions around the supervision of learners whilst on school activities outside the school premises have risen and whether educators are equipped enough to perform their duties. Few days later another story broke of a teenage boy who was found in the swimming pool of his boarding school, his family suspects he was bullied and drowned. It has been reported that there have been five cases of learners drowning at the same facility the Nyati Bush and River break Lodge in the North West province. And so, on the show today we ask how safe are our children when they attend these outside school activities? We are joined by: • Elijah Mhlanga, is the spokesperson for the National Department of Education in South Africa • Commissioner at the South African Human Rights Commission Andre Gaum (pronounced Gauwm) • Ernest Boyenge from the Congolese community the association has been providing support to the Mpianzi family