Pretoria - Burglaries at Gauteng schools have been on a steady decrease, thanks to the Integrated School Safety Strategy that has been implemented across the province.
The Gauteng Department of Education launched the programme in October 2011 as part of an integrated school safety strategy.
Nearly 6 000 patrollers have been deployed to 1 602 priority schools in Gauteng. The department reported that since the inception of the programme, it has seen a dramatic improvement in the rate of burglaries.
"As a result of the patroller programme, we have reduced the number of burglaries during the festive season to 15. We had 47 burglaries in schools in January 2011 compared to 6 in January 2012," the department noted.
The duties of the patrollers are to control access and safeguard the department's premises; search cars and visitors; report all incidents threatening learners and employees; work closely with school guards, and protect Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment.
The department added that the aim of the programme was to provide safety support to schools while at the same time, increasing the employment opportunities of patrollers.
"All schools have a minimum of four patrollers and receive a flat rate. While they receive a flat stipend, they are given accredited training and experience, which will increase their chances of securing formal employment.
"We have put the majority of them on the BAS system so that they are paid regularly and on time," the department said.
Meanwhile, the department has sent condolences to the family of one patroller, who died at work.
"We send our condolences to the family as we understand he may have taken his own life. We are cooperating with the police who are investigating the circumstances around the untimely passing of the patroller."
