The Department of Basic Education (DBE) remains committed to the use of the National School Safety Framework (NSSF) as an effective and operative overarching framework to assist schools in identifying and managing safety issues, and to ensure that schools are safe and provide for inclusive environments for teaching and learning.
At its core, issues of bullying remain the responsibility of the schools via their codes of conduct, which are outlined in the NSSF with the intention of preventing and managing incidents of misconduct within the school environment. Learner codes of conduct are developed by schools, in consultation with the school governing bodies and learner representative councils. The codes of conduct stipulate the rules of learner behaviour in schools, and the disciplinary procedures to be undertaken after incidents of contravention are reported; as well as the sanctions which are imposed against perpetrators who are found guilty. This gives learners a sense of ownership over their school environment, and the safety of themselves and their fellow learners at school. With support from the district and provincial education offices, schools are mandated to ensure that learners abide by their codes of conduct, and that incidents of bullying do not occur within the school.
This being said, the department takes incidents of bullying in all schools very seriously, and any and all measures are taken to ensure that these incidents are managed appropriately, and prevented as is pro ti ally possible. In line with this, the Department of Basic Education is currently developing a national strategy to assist schools with preventing and managing cases of bullying, including cyber-bullying. This strategy aims to address systemic causes of bullying to ensure that this social ill is eradicated from our schools, while also providing a practical guide for schools to deal with incidences of bullying on the ground.
Additionally, the DBE has partnered with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DC&DT) and other partners including Google, Films and Publications Board, Media Monitoring Africa and Meta, to design and implement an effective programme on online safety and cyber-bullying in schools across the country.
The Department is confident that these measures in combination, will provide schools with the support they need to keep learners and educators safe within their classrooms, and ensure that bullying is prevented in our schools.