The Eastern Cape Department of Education is holding a School Safety Workshop at the Mandla Makupula Education Leadership Institute in East London for District Officials.

Pam Gxuluwe, Director of School Health Safety and Learner Enrichment, talked us through the purpose of the workshop saying; " School Safety is a priority in the Eastern Cape so teaching and learning can continue."

Gxuluwe went on to introduce the goal of the National School Safety Framework, which is as follows; " To create a safe, violence and threat-free, supportive learning environment for learners, parents, educators, principals, SGB's and administration and in so doing, retain learners in schools."

One of the Departments Social Partners Musa Pretorius, Director of ATA Drive shared intended outcomes of the programme and are as follows to share just a few:

- 30% reduction in road traffic crashes in the province by 2030,
- 50% reduction road carnage in the province by the year 2030

Masonwabe Prusent from Chris Hani District, emphasized critical information from the National School Safety Framework (NSSF). Prusent highlighted the following;

*The four Pillars of NSSF*

- Safe and Responsive teaching and learning environment.
- Early identification and intervention
- Reporting
- Support and care.

This workshop presented a wealth of information that is crucial to School Safety, kindly look at www.eceducation.gov.za under presentations for everything that was presented.

In the true words of our former MEC Mandla Makupula, Prusent reiterated; "Education is a Societal Matter," go out to your districts and share the information.