Growing Gauteng Together. This is the ambitious vision of the Gauteng provincial government, which provides a blueprint to what it hopes will be an economically developed society by 2030, where the education system will drive a much-needed “skills revolution”.
But brand-stamped on a recent report by the provincial education department on school vandalism, these words are jarring and starkly removed from the harsh reality of many schools.
Last week it emerged that the department would need at least R50m to fix at least 54 schools that have been vandalised since the beginning of the year.
A closer look at the department’s report on damaged schools paints a troublesome picture of a government that seemingly does not have adequate resources nor the community-based intelligence needed to secure schools.
It further appears that proposed solutions so far have either been implemented half-heartedly or have failed because of inadequate support from the solutions value chain.
For example, the department has sought the help of police through the Adopt a Cop programme, which to some degree outsources the responsibility for school security to police.
But, as admitted by the department in its report, that has not worked.
There is not enough police visibility, which is especially needed in the evenings. This is likely because police do not have capacity to constantly keep an eye on schools as needed.
Also, it appears some schools need to be linked to police stations closer to them. This leaves the department with two other options in its strategy.
One is to monitor schools using the latest security technology.
However, many schools, especially in areas regarded as high-risk, simply cannot afford this.
The other is to make use of patrollers but because they are not accredited guards, by law their work is limited to that of monitoring and reporting than than to providing actual security services.
So far the department is fighting a losing battle – one that will need communities to take far more responsibility to protect schools.
Not only can we not afford the millions of rand needed every year to fix vandalised infrastructure. As a nation we cannot afford to sit back and watch the future of our children stripped piece by piece by thugs looking to make a quick buck.
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