Basic Education must ensure proper school management - Naptosa
The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) says parents and teachers need to work together to ensure a safe teaching environment for both pupils and teachers.
The teachers' union shares the sentiments as pupils across the country are set to return to school on Wednesday.
There are growing concerns over unsafe teaching and learning environments in schools over the years.
NAPTOSA's executive director, Basil Manuel, says the Department of Basic Education must ensure proper management and good school leadership.
"We have to ensure that the school's management is managing the school. Parents are also a part of it. We cannot bring in the department every time when something goes wrong.
"The department cannot oversee every little thing. That is why it delegated leadership. Let’s work together; parents stop defending children when they are wrong; teachers must stop being inconsistent. Managers must know when to manage and when not to manage because they also have to give teachers the space to exercise their management skills.
"There is generally a lack of respect between pupils and teachers, and we have seen this playing out in various ways, bullying and teachers getting killed. There is no easy solution; it is not about policing, it's about discipline".
Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) says pupils need to work their relationships with teachers to foster healthy emotional well-being in a school setting.
COSAS says pupils need to feel safe when they are around their teachers.
Union's national spokesperson Lesedi Mokoena says pupils should always report incidents that make them feel uncomfortable.
"When a learner encounters bullying, they should only take a step by reporting, either to COSAS, the School Governing Body, or the school management. Pupils must work on the ability to cope with one's emotions by having good relationships with their teachers and peers."
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