Loadshedding continues to pose a number of risks. Aside from causing property damage and business disruptions, it has also increased security risks in an economy grappling with unemployment and crime. Despite this, security has not been beefed up in most schools. Servest speaks more about security solutions for schools.
Improving Security Solutions For Schools
More than 13 million learners have returned to school for the 2023 academic year, at the country’s22 740 public and 2 150 independent schools.
George Fitzroy, managing director of security at facilities management company, Servest, says it’s regrettable that South African communities have not always treated schools as critically important social resources that need preventative security.
“During Covid-19 lockdowns, over 1 880 schools across the country were vandalised, he points out. “In addition, public and private infrastructure was damaged to the tune of R200 million as a result of the unrest in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng in 2021.”.
The lack of security in schools had significant implications for learners and communities who were already catching up with a loss of teaching and learning time due to Covid-19-related lockdowns.
As far back as 2016, in Vuwani, Limpopo over 31 schools were torched and destroyed. For close to 18 months, teaching and learning were disrupted for 30 000 students. However, preventative security measures are still not considered a priority to safeguard public school assets, infrastructure, and the students and teachers who utilise these facilities.
Security Challenges For Schools
According to Fitzroy, “security in our schools remains a fundamental challenge, and additional security strategies are needed to minimise these costly security threats.”
He believes proactive security response tools that enable schools to react to a security threat while they wait for law enforcement to respond are equally critical. “Schools with access control and surveillance cameras have a better security profile and that allows them to proactively monitor security threats more effectively.”
In order to maintain security in school facilities, Fitzroy suggests a number of cost-effective security measures, including establishing access controls for students and visitors; identifying ways to monitor foot traffic patterns; strategically installing surveillance cameras at schools; and collaborating with community policing support groups to patrol around the school.
“While comprehensive security solutions are necessary, these are some proven cost-effective measures that can be taken in schools to improve safety and security, especially where budgets are tight. The cost of repairs and the risk to the safety and security of learners and teachers can be higher than the cost of proactive prevention.”
As we look forward to a year where significant challenges like load-shedding, unemployment, and social unrest are likely to persist, it is crucial to examine the security risk profile of facilities and assets to identify security risks and explore ways to mitigate them before crime strikes; and enhance efforts to proactively respond to security threats,” Fitzroy concludes.
