Equal Education calls on govt to implement psychosocial measures to eradicate bullying in schools

Youth-led education activists Equal Education has called on government to implement psychosocial measures to ensure bullying is eradicated at schools.

Equal Education's plea to the Department of Basic Education follows widespread outrage related to alleged incidents of assault and bullying at Milnerton High School.

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Eight Grade 11 pupils from the school appeared in court for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm last week, after a video of a Grade 10 pupil being beaten by a group of older boys went viral on social media.

Equal Education organiser, Makanatsa Ziyambi, said that government has a social responsibility to curb bullying at schools.

"The Department of Basic Education needs to create systems that can ensure that bullying is eradicated in our schools. They already have them in their policies, but they are not being practised in schools, such as having psychosocial support within the schools."

Ziyambi said that the criminalisation of pupils was not a solution to the problem.

"So, we urge schools and the Department of Basic Education to explore means of restorative justice. Have the learners do certain things, such as publicly apologising to the learner that they harmed."

Ziyambi said doing community service and attending therapy sessions were alternative ways to deal with bullying at schools.