Child Protection Register: Education activist says SGBs must enforce policies
Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has welcomed the vetting of public school staff against the National Child Protection Register, urging schools, parents and governing bodies to strengthen child safety policies and accountability.
An education activist says child protection policies will only be effective if they are properly implemented, with parents, teachers, learners and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) all playing their part.
Hendrick Makaneta has welcomed a court-backed settlement that will see the department vet all public school employees against the National Child Protection Register by March next year.
The department entered into an agreement with the Teddy Bear Foundation and Section27, after it emerged that failures in the child protection system had allowed people deemed unfit to work with children to remain in child-contact environments.
This stems from the 2015 rape case of a primary school learner by a school caretaker, whose name was never added to the register despite his conviction.
The organisation took the department to court, seeking an order to ensure that anyone convicted of sexual offences against children or declared unsuitable to work with them is reported and added to the register.
SGBs urged to enforce school policies
Makaneta says any measures aimed at ensuring learners can study in a safe and conducive learning environment are welcome.
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"The education of a child is [based on] a triangle which requires [a] collaborative effort between parents, learners and teachers. The three segments have to work together to ensure that all of these policies are implemented properly.
"The SGB [School Governing Body], as the custodian of the policies, has a bigger duty to make sure that it also enforces all of these policies with a view to ensuring that a conducive environment for learning and teaching is realised.
"There must be consequence management for those who fail to comply."
