MINISTER FAVOURS SEARCHING OF PUPILS

To search or not to search. That is the dilemma facing authorities as
gun-toting and knife-wielding pupils run amok in some schools, their
actions sometimes resulting in death and injuries.

But KwaZulu-Natal education minister Narend Singh said yesterday schools
had to monitor what their pupils were bringing into the classroom and out
on to the playground.

Supporting the searching of pupils, Singh said all schools would be given
circulars from Monday clarifying the matter. More than 75% of the
province's schools already have safety committees but guidelines on safety
and security issues were not being implemented, he told The Mercury.

The minister will today launch an advocacy campaign on school discipline,
safety and security in KwaMashu.

The campaign, a joint venture with the eThekwini Council's health, police
and welfare departments and the KwaZulu-Natal department of education aims
at undertaking major intervention programmes to inculcate a culture of
discipline, safety and security in schools and to also address the use of
drugs.

Searches

It is hoped the campaign will foster an effective partnership with
teachers, police, religious leaders, councillors and parents.

On searches, Singh said while schools would not be compelled to do so, the
department would provide them with the legal framework under which this
could be carried out.

Schools in some areas, like KwaMashu, have been carrying out random
searches, which local chief education superintendent Morris Mzoneli said
had led to a decline in the amount of drugs being brought to schools.

Mzoneli warned that if the drug issue was not tackled, it would lead to
more serious problems, involving guns and other weapons.

Singh said in the past, school authorities used to check on many aspects of
their charges, even the length of their hair and fingernails, but it was
now important pupils were checked for weapons and drugs, he said.

However, this might be in conflict with national policy.

According to the policy framework for the management of drug abuse by
pupils in schools and in public further education and training
institutions, released in May 2002, all learning institutions need to have
clear policies on prevention and intervention, which should be clearly
communicated to the school community.

However, the policy makes it clear that random searches of individuals were
prohibited.

"Searches of learners can only be carried out by persons of the same gender
as part of a structured intervention, if there is reasonable suspicion that
the learner is in possession of a prohibited substance," it states.

Meanwhile, 75 KwaMashu schools are expected to participate in today's
launch of the advocacy campaign at the Princess Magogo Stadium.