The education ministry has assured parents that it will continue to pay for security services, but will reduce the number of guards per school.
Parents this week alleged that government schools are not safe, amid various cases of school violence reported over the years, and also expressed concern that buildings and facilities will be vandalised and equipment stolen if left without security guards.
Those concerned allege that the ministry of education has apparently stopped paying for security services for schools.
School violence has gained attention in recent years, with the rise of aggressive behaviour in schools across Namibia.
In 2018, a 13-year-old Grade 5 boy at the limbili Combined School in the Ohangwena region lost his life after he was shot with a gun at school.
The education ministry said in a statement at the time that the incident happened when an 11-year-old pupil took a firearm to school. While playing with the firearm during break time, he fatally wounded a classmate, which resulted in the untimely death of the learner.
In 2010, the education ministry undertook to investigate a matter where a firearm was said to have disappeared from the premises of a Windhoek primary school.
These are a few among the many reported cases of violence in Namibian schools.
Contacted for comment, education executive director Sanet Steenkamp yesterday rubbished the allegations, saying the government still offers security services to schools. She was, however, quick to add that security guards at schools have been reduced.
For 2021/22, she said government has transferred an amount of N$153 million to schools in different regions for security services.
“To say the ministry has stopped paying for refuse removal and security services at schools is incorrect and devoid of any truth. If there are specific regions having challenges in the procurement of security services, they will sort it out. If there are schools using community members as security services, they are welcome to do so. Instead of having four guards at schools, we don’t do that anymore. Guards are reduced,” Steenkamp stressed.
However, the ministry still expects security companies to provide well-trained guards to be alert, vigilant, visible, on-the-job and carry out their duties with pride.
She said this time of the year, schools need more security services because they are handling cash derived from admission fees paid by parents who are enrolling their children.
“We have an increase in admission fees that parents pay, and it should be handled and banked. We require our security services to give nothing but their best services. It’s non-negotiable,” Steenkamp reacted.
In 2021, the education ministry had 1 949 schools, of which 245 were private schools.
According to her, there are schools that prefer to have alarm systems, and that is in place. “There is no need for excess security services at schools. Security personnel, just like any other person in employment, provide the security services required,” she added.
In 2018, Namibia’s National Safe Schools Framework was developed jointly by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and UNICEF to strengthen the provision of healthy, supportive and conducive teaching and learning in light of a worrisome level of violence in Namibian schools. The introduction and overview explains what such a framework represents, why it is needed in Namibia, and how the framework was developed. It describes the safe schools’ vision, defines minimum standards and stakeholder roles, and outlines a common, comprehensive approach to school safety in Namibia.
The practical guide features a set of practical, user-friendly ideas to help schools realise the safe schools’ vision, and to meet the minimum standards for safe schools. The resource kit offers hands-on tools, activities and other information that schools can use to implement the framework.
–anakale@nepc.com.na