Inclusion of learners’ views in safety and security matters at schools

Abstract

Violence and bullying in schools keep escalating and have become a world-wide problem – also in South Africa. This problem is continuing unabated, despite the different intervention strategies in place. Intervention strategies include the Child-Friendly Schools (CFS) programme, the National School Safety Framework (NSSF), the Safe Schools Programme (SSP), the Hlayiseka Early Warning System, the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) framework, Speak Out, We Care, and the life orientation curriculum. As part of the intervention strategies, learners’ views should be included in the decision-making process. With this article I intend to report on a study that was conducted on the inclusion of learners’ views in matters focusing on safety and security at schools. A qualitative approach was used in the study. Observation, interviewing, and document analysis were used as methods of data generation. Data were analysed by developing themes. The findings reveal that learners’ views were not included in matters related to safety and security at schools. I argue that the main reason for the continuing violence is that stakeholders who are in authority do not include the views of learners in the development and the implementation of safety and security strategies. I suggest that all stakeholders should be assisted in understanding the value of an inclusive approach in the decision-making process.