By Akani Nkuna
The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng has strongly criticised the provincial education department for failing to conduct background checks of 3400 learner transport drivers, calling the oversight a dangerous breach of child safety protocols.
According to the DA, the department’s negligence in vetting drivers poses a serious risk to the safety and well-being of schoolchildren. The party is demanding urgent intervention to prevent potential abuse and ensure compliance with safeguarding regulations.
“The Gauteng department of education’s (GDE) failure to thoroughly vet 3400 scholar transport drivers against the Child Protection Register (CPR) puts the safety of learners at risk. This failure could lead to incidents of sexual harassment against learners and expose them to inappropriate materials,” said DA Gauteng spokesperson for education, Michael Waters.
He accused MEC Matome Chiloane of gross negligence.
Waters said the department’s failure to properly vet transport drivers, who have unfettered access to learners during their daily commute, reflected a disturbing disregard for student safety and a broader pattern of mismanagement within the provincial education system.
“The department’s failure to vet school transport drivers comes of the back of another fiasco where it was found that 12 teachers convicted of sexual offences were allowed to teach school children,” Waters added.
Replying to questions, Chiloane said in a letter to the Gauteng legislature that the divers possessed valid police clearance certificates, as mandated by the tender process.
He added that each driver has undergone the necessary security screening, in line with the terms of reference for the service.
“The responsibility of vetting drivers lies with the bus owners, as employers. The department will request the companies to address this matter,” Chiloane said.
The MEC also revealed that the department allocated R1.7 billion annually to school transport.
He noted that the department in collaboration with key stakeholders, including departments of community safety, roads and transport, health and municipalities must ensure safety standards and regulatory compliance are maintained in the provision of scholar transports services.
“GDE has not received any status report for vehicles transporting learners as this is the competence of the department of community safety,” Chiloane said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
