By Lebone Rodah Mosima
A 14-year-old Grade 7 learner accused of sexually harassing a Free State educator faces a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, with possible rehabilitation or expulsion among the outcomes outlined by the provincial education department.
The learner allegedly attempted to inappropriately touch the 32-year-old female educator at Dibeng-sa-Tsebo Primary School in Botshabelo in October.
The Free State Department of Education said the educator acted swiftly to protect herself, while school management separated the two, informed their parents and reported the incident to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
A criminal case has been opened and is under investigation.
The educator has since reported being unwell and unable to return to work. The department said she had been provided with psychosocial support.
The matter was referred to the School Governing Body (SGB) and its Disciplinary Committee in October, with a formal disciplinary hearing scheduled for 5 November.
Free State Education MEC MJ Maboya condemned the alleged incident and called for greater protection of teachers.
“We will not tolerate the abuse of teachers in our schools. Our classrooms must be safe spaces for both learners and educators. An attack on a teacher is an attack on education itself. No teacher should go to school fearing for their safety and dignity. We stand firmly with her and all educators. Discipline, respect and protection of our teachers is non-negotiable.”
Maboya also called on parents and communities to work with the department to instil discipline and respect in learners.
In response to questions about the possible consequences for the learner, the department said a social worker must conduct an assessment to determine the underlying causes of the behaviour before expulsion is considered.
It said its approach prioritised rehabilitation and behavioural change rather than punishment, with diversion programmes among the possible interventions.
“Should the learner fail to accept responsibility for his or her actions or continue to pose a serious risk to the school environment, the Head of Department (HOD) may exercise the authority to expel the learner and facilitate placement at an alternative educational institution,” the department said.
Expulsion decisions are governed by the South African Schools Act, while the Child Justice Act 75 of 2008 provides for the assessment of children accused of offences, diversion programmes, restorative justice interventions and possible criminal prosecution.
The department said the nature and seriousness of the alleged offence would determine which interventions were appropriate, with the legislation seeking to balance accountability, rehabilitation and the protection of victims.
The Free State also has two specialised Child and Youth Care Centres offering behavioural support for learners requiring more intensive intervention.
These are Jimmie Roos School for boys in Dewetsdorp and Rosenhof School for girls in Bloemfontein.
According to the department, the centres have multidisciplinary teams comprising psychologists, social workers, child and youth care workers and educators trained to address challenging behaviour.
Placement at these facilities is subject to a court order, with learners typically accommodated for up to two years to receive care, support and rehabilitation services.
Meanwhile, the department outlined several measures intended to protect educators from harassment, intimidation, physical assault and sexual abuse.
These include School Safety Committees, educator safety surveys and partnerships with local police stations under the 2011 Protocol on Cooperation between the Department of Basic Education and SAPS.
“School Safety Committees have been established and trained to coordinate school safety interventions, monitor risks, and address incidents affecting both learners and educators,” the department said.
It said schools were also linked to local police stations and supported by designated SAPS School Safety Officers to improve responses to threats, harassment, assault and sexual offences.
The department said educator and learner safety surveys conducted under the National School Safety Framework helped identify schools facing heightened risks and guide targeted interventions.
Affected educators could also access psychological counselling, trauma debriefing and referrals for professional assistance through the department’s Employee Wellness Programme.
Schools were reviewing and strengthening learner codes of conduct to make clear that intimidation, assault, sexual harassment and other forms of violence against educators could result in disciplinary action, criminal proceedings or both.
The department’s School Safety and Inclusive Education Directorates also conduct training for educators and school management teams on incident reporting, disruptive behaviour, child justice procedures and emergency preparedness.
The department said it remained committed to working with SAPS, parents, communities and SGBs to ensure safe teaching and learning environments.
The learner’s identity has been withheld because he is a minor.
INSIDE EDUCATION
