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- About 40 pupils from Gauteng schools have reportedly killed themselves this year.
- Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane announced plans to reduce suicide among pupils.
- Among the plans is a partnership with the SA Depression and Anxiety Group.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has announced a plan to address pupil suicides after more than 40 suicides were reported in the province's schools since the beginning of 2023.
The most recent incident occurred on Friday, when an 11-year-old Grade 5 pupil from Anzac Primary School in Brakpan took her own life after her parents reprimanded her for the alleged theft of R300.
"As the department, we are devastated by these deaths and believe those numbers constitute far too many young lives that have been taken away from their families, friends and our schools before reaching their full potential. We pledge our solidarity and support to the families and friends that were befallen by these tragic, premature deaths," said Chiloane.
He added that pupils were confronted with "a variety of problems" that could make them feel hopeless and overwhelmed, including anxiety, depression, bullying, violence and online abuse.
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"Information at our disposal indicates that, all in all, there have been no less than 300 cases of learner deaths reported to the Gauteng Department of Education, including the 40 which are alleged suicides, since the start of the year.
"We are aware that the deaths have had a massive psychological impact on our learners, teachers and the greater schooling community.
"It is, therefore, imperative that, in the immediate, we provide support to those affected and, in the long term, we respond with lasting solutions which can help turn the situation around," said Chiloane.
"The department has already deployed 500 learner support agents to provide us with an early warning mechanism and give peer counselling to support 1 200 schools; sent an additional 120 social workers to assist with risk assessment of learners; deployed 500 Ke Moja coaches to assist with substance abuse awareness; and popularised the Childline toll-free number [116] to provide counselling services free of charge for learners and educators."
He said they would also implement additional measures through a partnership with the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance; the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag); Childline; the Teddy Bear Foundation; and the National Association of Child and Youth Care Workers to help pupils and teachers deal with challenges that may lead to suicide or suicidal ideation.
Chiloane said:
"Our talks with learners and their parents will also focus on debunking common suicide myths, raising awareness about the kind of language to use when referring to suicide, and general advice on dealing with people displaying suicidal signs."
He said measures would also be implemented to reduce violence in schools.
"Violence and instability undermine the safety and wellbeing of the school community and make it hard for effective learning and teaching to take place.
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"Some of our schools are best characterised as warzones, and learners, educators and staff members do not feel safe," he said.
The department has adopted the Operation Kgutla Molao campaign to "improve and sharpen existing strategies and urgently tackle safety concerns in schools".
Under the campaign, security guards will be deployed to 75 schools with high crime incidents across Gauteng.
Chiloane said 245 schools in the province had received handheld detectors to help with screening for weapons, while e-panic buttons will be distributed to more than 3 000 staff in the schools.
In addition, CCTV cameras will be installed in 90 schools.
"There are more actions that will be implemented to improve school safety and learner wellbeing. These will be priority actions around which crucial resources and communities will be mobilised," he said.
