By Palesa Nguqu
Bullying and violence in Gauteng schools remain a significant challenge, affecting learners’ mental health, academic performance and overall well-being, prompting calls for stronger intervention and monitoring mechanisms.
While the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has acknowledged the problem, experts and stakeholders say the response is not yet sufficient and are urging more proactive and innovative measures to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for all pupils.
Advocates are calling for a comprehensive, centralised system to log and track bullying complaints in real time, whether they are reported formally or informally. They say such a system would help identify emerging trends, enable timely intervention and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
According to DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Sergio Isa Dos Santos, accountability and standardised protocols are essential.
“A real-time bullying incident reporting system, similar to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) Safe Schools model, is essential, so every case can be recorded, tracked, and responded to swiftly.
“Quarterly incident reports from schools to district offices, and ultimately to oversight bodies, would greatly improve monitoring and responsiveness.”
Dos Santos has also called for the immediate referral of serious cases to psychosocial support services so that pupils at risk receive professional help as early as possible.
Another key recommendation is the introduction of anonymous reporting tools that allow learners to flag bullying without fear of victimisation. “Tools that allow students to report bullying without fear of retribution are vital for creating an environment where learners feel safe to speak out,” he said.
Evidence-based programmes that measure conflict resolution and establish early warning systems in high-risk areas were also emphasised as effective preventative measures aimed at tackling bullying before it escalates.
Partnerships with external organisations, NGOs, social workers, and community forums are seen as critical to strengthening mental health support and anti-bullying education, with advocates pointing to the Western Cape’s Safe Schools initiative as a model.
“These programmes can help parents and caregivers identify early warning signs and support children who experience bullying,” Dos Santos said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
