By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The European Union on Monday committed about R95.7 million toward a national programme to help prevent and respond to bullying and gender-based violence in South African schools, during the Basic Education Department’s Back-to-School Campaign at Eldorado Secondary School, Johannesburg.
EU Ambassador to South Africa, Dr Sandra Kramer, said the funding reflected the bloc’s commitment to learner safety and wellbeing and formed part of its long-standing cooperation with the country.
“We partner with the Republic of South Africa in the field of education because education matters,” she said.
During her keynote address, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube thanked the EU for its donation and said that intimidation, violence, and abuse undermined learning outcomes and the dignity of learners. She called for consistent prevention and response measures in schools.
“We welcome this contribution and we commit to ensuring that it delivers real impact in the lives of our learners and in the lives of others around the country”, Gwarube said.
She said international partnerships have sent a strong message that learner safety is a global priority and that “South Africa is not alone in this fight”.
A public commitment would be signed with learners, education leaders, and partners to reinforce accountability and action in creating safer schools, she said.
“As a government, we are clear. Schools must be places of care, discipline, and respect. Learners must feel protected by adults and that they are entrusted with their education”.
Gwarube acknowledged that schools cannot address these challenges alone and called for collective action involving parents, communities, law enforcement, and social partners.
She encouraged learners who experience bullying to speak out, warned perpetrators that such behaviour would not be tolerated, and criticised the silence of bystanders, who enable abusers and fail to protect victims.
“Being brave sometimes means standing up for somebody else, and gender-based violence is one of the greatest threats to the safety and well-being of our learners, particularly girls”, she said.
The funding will strengthen prevention, education, psychosocial support, referral pathways, and school-based interventions to protect school learners.
“The European Union stands with you in solidarity. Every child, regardless of geography, can learn in peace and dignity,” Kramer said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
