School Safety & the Integrated School Health Programme

1. School Safety & the Integrated School Health Programme Presentation to the Select Committee on Education and Recreation 26 February 2014 Dr Shermain Mannah Dr Faith Kumalo Acting Chief Director Chief Director Social Inclusion & Partnerships Care & Support in Schools

2. School Safety Programme

3. Overview • Guiding Principles • Violence in South African Schools • Current evidence on school violence • Key Findings of the NSVS Study 2012 • DBE Response to School Safety • Ecological Model Explained • Current Programmes • Focus of the DBE-SAPS Protocol • Progress on implementation of the Protocol • Programmes in Progress • Integrating School Safety across the Curriculum & Teacher Development • Conclusion

4. Guiding Principles NDP & Action Plan 2014-Towards Vision 2015 Goal 10 ► Ensure learners remain effectively enrolled in school up to 15 years Goal 22 ► Improve parent and community participation in the governance of schools Goal 24 ► Ensure that the environment of every school inspires learners to want to come to school and learn, and teachers to teach

5. Violence in Schools: Perception and Reality

6. Current Evidence on Violence in Schools • Leverage on existing research and data- work closely with different institutions & departments, for example: South African Council of Educators (SACE), Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP), South African Human Rights Commission, Dept of Justice & Constitutional Development, Dept. of Social Development etc. • In 2008, CJCP conducted first baseline study on school violence and conducted a follow up study in 2012. • The 2008 study found that 22% of the secondary school learners surveyed had succumbed to some form of violence in the 12 months preceding the study.

7. Violence in South African Schools • The initial baseline study revealed most schools had similar safety and security challenges, which were grouped as follows: • Physical infrastructure and equipment • Safety and Security • Management and Governance • Partnership • The second NSVS study (2012) revealed that although violence is still high, it has remained constant (22.2% in 2012) • It provided data on the sites of violence, the hot-spots and gendered nature of sexual assault • This allows for targeted interventions and responses

8. Key Findings of the CJCP NSVS (2012) • The study sample comprised 5,939 learners, 121 principals and 239 educators. • In total, more than a fifth of learners had experienced violence at school. • 12.2% had been threatened with violence by someone at school • 6.3% had been assaulted • 4.7% had been sexually assaulted or raped • 4.5% had been robbed at school.

9. KEY FINDINGS CONT. • 20% scholars had experienced some form of cyber bullying violence in the past year. • Violence at schools was often not a once-off encounter. • Violence was not limited to incidents between learners • The classroom is the primary site of victimization • Educators were also often victims of verbal violence (52.1%), physical violence (12.4%) and sexual violence (3.3%) perpetrated by learners.

10. Perpetrators of violence

11. Location of violence

12. DBE Response to violence in schools The DBE response to school safety is underpinned by the following: • School violence is undergirded by a myriad of individual, school, family and broader community-level risk factors that coalesce to create vulnerability for violence. • Any attempt to curb violence occurring in schools needs to extend beyond the school itself. • Parental & Community support, including prevention and early intervention are the most reliable and cost-effective ways to support school safety

13. DBE Response to violence in schools The DBE uses an ecological model to address violence in schools

14. Ecological Model Explained

15. Current Programmes • School safety & the prevention of crime is a shared mandate, hence DBE collaborates with other relevant departments • In 2011 the DBE & SAPS signed a protocol to reduce crime and violence in schools and in communities • The Strategic Objective of this Protocol is to create Safe, Caring and Child Friendly Schools, and address incidents of crime and violence in a holistic and integrated manner

16. THE FOCUS OF THE DBE-SAPS PROTOCOL • To strengthen Safe School Committees in addressing crime and violence in schools as part of its mandate • To assume an active role as a member of Safe School Committees • To link all schools to local Police Stations • To raise awareness amongst children and young learners regarding crime and violence and its impact on individuals, families and education • To mobilize communities to take ownership of schools • To encourage the establishment of reporting systems at schools and, • To implement school-based crime prevention programmes in collaboration with provincial, district/local officials responsible for school safety

17. Progress on implementation of the Protocol • Thus far close to 15 000 schools linked to police stations have been verified by the DBE • School Safety Committees comprising of SGB members, educators and a police official will receive training this year on the implementation of the Protocol • The SAPS-DBE Protocol is being integrated into the DBE’s social cohesion programme • Community School Safety Dialogues with SAPS will be rolled out in the new financial year

18. Current Programmes Cont. • Developed training manuals for provincial and district officials, principals, school management teams, school governing bodies, teachers and learners on the Prevention and Management of Bullying, including cyber-bullying in schools. • Training was rolled out nationally last year and currently provinces have a total of 1387 master trainers • Specific effort have been made to include schools for learners with special needs • Provinces have submitted implementation plans for the roll out of training which will be monitored by the national office • Developed E-Safety Guidelines to address cyber-bullying & pamphlets on School Safety tips for parents and teachers, cyber & homophobic bullying & gangsterism and distributed to provinces electronically

19. In Progress • Developing an integrated and multi-disciplinary National School Safety Framework: including GBV, Drug & alcohol abuse etc. • Integrate school safety plans into local development & safety plans: School Safety Committees at the local level will work closely with Community Based Police Forums & other local crime prevention initiatives • Monitoring and Evaluation: The framework will be supported by a clear implementation roll out plan, standardized school safety indicatorsand accessible tools for schools. • Evidence-based prevention Strategy: develop a data base on school violence prevention initiatives which will be evidence-based and implement these best practices in targeted areas

20. Integrating Safety in Curriculum & Teacher Development Curriculum & Teacher Development: • Rights and Responsibilities: BOR & Teacher training manual • Values in Action Training manual • Gender Empowerment – Speak Out against Abuse • GEM/BEM Clubs • Sports for Development • Building Social Cohesion • Peer Education and Life skills • National Strategy on Prevention & Management of Alcohol and Drug use • School Governing Bodies & RCLs • Partnerships

21. Conclusion • Addressing violence cannot be solely addressed at one level. • Like the 2008 NSVS study, the 2012 NSVS highlighted the extent to which family and community factors intersect with the levels of violence occurring at schools. • School violence has deep societal origins. Thus, safe community and broader societal environments are prerequisites for safe schools. • Thus, any response geared towards creating a safe and supportive school environment needs to identify locally the risk and protective factors and put mechanisms in place to address these. School violence is a societal issue that requires a collaborative and whole school approach.

22. Integrated School Health Programme

23. Outline of presentation • Background • Achievements • Challenges • Plans for 2014/15 FY • Best practices • Conclusion

24. Background • June 2009: Minister of BE reached agreement with Minister of Health to implement school health screening for Grade 1 learners in 2010 • health assessment package included screening for vision, hearing & oral health • 2009: Joint Task Team DBE & DOH formed. Implemented School Health Weeks March & October from 2010 • Feb 2011: Minister of BE requested extension of programme to: • all Grade 1 learners • learners repeating grades • referrals by educators and/or parents • Incrementally provide services to all learners

25. Background continued • August 2012 - ISHP Joint task team between DBE, DOH and DSD, overseen by the DDGs in DBE & DOH. Participation by NGOs & development partners • Strengths • High level political commitment • 11 October 2012: ISHP launched by President, Tshwane, GP: ‘ISHP a revolution?’ • March 2014: HPV vaccination to be launched, Mangaung, FS • SONA: School Health Services

26. Achievements: Inter-sectoralcollaboration National level • Regular TT meetings • Provide support to ISHP implementation at provincial level • Intergovernmental Protocol drafted • Guidelines for principals and service providers to engage with schools developed, training provided • (Draft) Guidelines for SGBs to consult on ISHP Provincial /district level • PTT in NC, WC, EC, KZN, MP, LP, FS • All provinces developed joint implementation plans for 2013/14; draft 2014/15

27. Support to Provinces • Interprovincial meetings held • 27-28 Feb 2012, 10-11 Apr 2013, 28-29 Jan 2014 • Extensive school level monitoring • Support for development of provincial implementation plans • Strengthening PTT, DTT • DBE provided 1897 scales, 2025 stadiometers, 14659 snellen charts (EU funding) • PEDs purchased screens, snellen charts, scales, stadiometers, duplication of reporting, consent forms through HIV & AIDS Life Skills Education Programme Conditional Grant • DOH purchased state-of-the art mobiles for 11 NHI pilot districts

28. Defined Target Group Screened once per educational phase: • Grade 1: early intervention • Grade 4: before onset of puberty (health education) • Grade 8: transition from primary to secondary school (increased risk behaviours) • Grade 10: Drop out increases–risk factor for early pregnancy & HIV • Learners repeating grades, & in special schools: identify health barriers to learning

29. Defined Health Services Package • Health screening (vision, hearing, nutritional status, TB) • onsite services (immunisation, minor ailments) • health education • environmental assessment For older learners SRH services (HCT, contraception incl. condoms, screening for STIs & pregnancy, education on MMC) NB: SRH services provided by a professional nurse, private & confidential

30. Human and other resources • Provincial Coordinators for DOH, DBE, some DSD • School health teams (RN & ENA-2 nurses, oral hygienist & health promoter) - norm: 1 school health team per 2,000 targeted learners - Increased number of teams; NEED MORE • Training manual for nurses developed & training on ISHP provided to all provinces • Advocacy Material developed

31. Mobiles procured by DOH

32. PHC Mobile

33. PHC mobile

34. School Health Teams

35. Advocacy Materials developed • Information leaflets on school health screening • Vision, hearing, oral health & speech impairments for educators & parents • Information leaflets for parents, learners on ISHP • Immunisation & de-worming for educators & parents • Advocacy leaflets for educators, parents & learners on alcohol and drug abuse • Advocacy leaflets for educators, parents & learners on TB (draft)

36. Parental involvement and consent • Active parental consent for all learners & learner assent (12 years & older) • Voluntary participation • Information leaflets, health education translated in all official languages • Consultations with SGBs • Parents encouraged to accompany learners when school health teams come

37. Achievements continued Data for 2013 April-December only

38. Challenges • Equipment not sufficient, especially audiometers • Credible data and timely reporting • Human Resources: DSD to appoint Provincial Coordinators, DOH: more school health teams (nurses, social workers, child and youth care workers), DBE needs dedicated ISHP officials • Lack of funding

39. ISHPPartners • Colgate Palmolive provided health education to 679 304 learners in 2013/14 • Transnet- Phelophepa Train provides health screening and services to learners • UNICEF funded 5 Year Strategy, TB awareness programme, health promotion material, support the development of implementation plans in EC • CDC funded Interprovincial meetings • CIE provided health services to 598 learners in 2013/14 in deep rural areas • VODACOM to develop service delivery & reporting model for mobile units • Bona Bolo to provide glasses to 8 schools in NW • Spec Savers, SterKinekorprovides glasses to learners in GP, NC, FS provinces • LoveLife supports health education • And many others………………….

40. Best practices • The ISHP is overseen by the DDGs of DBE & DOH • Example of inter-departmental collaboration • Monthly task team meetings held • Strong SGB and community involvement • Partnerships extend the reach of the ISHP

41. Plans for 2014/15 • Targets for 2014/15 • Grade 1 (all quintiles) • Grades 4, 8, 10 quintile 1-2 • Learners in special schools, repeating grades • HPV for Grade 4 girls • 8 ECF pilot districts • Stronger Inter-sectoral collaboration • Full implementation of the health services package • Functional Referral Systems • Must ensure services provided, beyond screening • Data collection & reporting (evidence) • Psychosocial Support • Resources

42. Conclusion • Since 2010 huge strides have been made in programme development & expanding • Strategy for universal coverage of all learners in ISHP is being developed, based on global evidence of best practice and our own experience • Strong political leadership and support • ISHP mechanism to deliver on Outcome 1 and 2 of government (Quality Basic Education and A Long and Healthy Life for All South Africans) • Can build on achievements made thus far

43. Thank You kumalo.f@dbe.gov.zamannah.s@dbe.gov.za