By Nangamso Mabindla
13 September 2007

THE Eastern Cape department of safety and liaison is visiting schools in East London and Mdantsane to promote a schools safety programme.

The department, working with the JAG Sports and Education Foundation, is implementing the resolutions taken at a summit in August aimed at creating safer schools, and combating crime.

As a result of the summit, the department allocated an amount of R6,7-million to run a pilot educational programme in 40 schools across the province focusing on safety and security.

Department of safety and liaison spokesperson Ncedo Kumbaca said the programme aimed to promote an integrated approach to enhance safety and security at schools, reduce school violence and mobilise communities to create an environment conducive to effective teaching and learning.

The safety programme is a partnership between the provincial departments of education and safety and liaison.

The programme was important, according to Kumbaca, as a police report assessing schools within the 29 police station precincts in the Eastern Cape, indicated that assault, substance and alcohol abuse, murder, rape and theft were prevalent.

"The schools safety programme promotes a multi-agency collaboration, which will enable government and society to win back our schools from the hands of criminals. The key focus areas of the school safety programme are infrastructure, security control, community mobilisation, anti-drug and substance abuse," he said.

Forty schools have been selected for the pilot phase and, according to Kumbaca, "will serve as the yardstick for a successful rollout".

Schools that have been visited in Buffalo City included John Bisseker, Greenpoint, Hudson Park, Clarendon High School, West Bank High, Selborne College (all in East London); Khulani Commercial High School, Sithembiso Secondary and David Mama High School ( Mdantsane).