By REGINALD KANYANE
11 September 2024- North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said as part of the roadshow aimed at ensuring school readiness and safety, they have conducted an unannounced visit to Meriti Secondary School in Meriting village, near Rustenburg, on 11 September 2024.
Motsumi said during the visit, the South African Police Service (SAPS) carried out a search and seizure operation as part of their collaboration with the Department of Education through the Adopt-a-Cop flagship program.
“The search uncovered knives, space muffins, marijuana, cigarettes, and an old police belt, raising serious concerns about the presence of illicit items on school grounds.
“Meriti Secondary School has recently experienced a rise in violent incidents, with two learners being stabbed by former students, resulting in their admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” she said.
Motsumi further said these incidents have highlighted the urgent need for continued efforts to combat crime and gang-related activity within schools. She added that the search and seizure initiative is part of ongoing efforts to curb crime and prevent gang-related activities from infiltrating school grounds.
“Grades 10 to 12 have been identified as areas of concern and in response, the department has provided psycho-social support and motivational talks to assist the learners.
“The importance of parental involvement in safeguarding learners and ensuring a conducive learning environment. It is crucial for parents to play an active role in their children’s education and well-being,” said Motsumi.
She said they also need to acknowledge the deep impact that psycho-social support has on their learners’ success, especially as they prepare for their final exams. Motsumi said together with the community, they can address the root causes of gang-related issues, which in some cases, may be fuelled by underlying tribal tensions.
“Our visit also aimed to assess the school’s readiness for the upcoming National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with Meriti Secondary School having an enrolment of 1,730 learners, including 280 Grade 12 learners who will sit for the 2024 final exams,” she said.
The Guardian 