THE recent drowning of 13-year-old Enock Mpianzi during a Parktown Boys’ High School Grade 8 orientation excursion has left the country reeling.
For those who are unfamiliar with the details, Mpianzi was one of about 200 boys who took part in the school orientation at Nyathi Bush and River Break in the North West Province.
Last Wednesday afternoon the boys were tasked with making a raft, which overturned, during which time Mpianzi went missing.
However, in a series of many questionable events, Mpianzi’s absence was not announced to authorities until some 17 hours later, although it is reported one of his fellow pupils alerted teachers to his absence on the bus returning from the activity.
This undeniably tragic incident has raised so many questions that the public – and Mpianzi’s family represented by the South African Human Rights Commission – want answered.
Why was a school excursion held so early in the year when pupils and teachers are still unfamiliar with each other?
Why were the pupils not wearing life jackets? Why were parents told to pay for life jackets – a cost which should reasonably be incurred by the establishment?
How could his absence go unnoticed for such an extended period? What procedures are in place to prevent this happening in future?
A collective reaction
The outcry from the country about this particular tragedy is vocal, but as is so often the case in South Africa, we are reactive rather than proactive.
Our president is constantly shocked by the re-occurrence of load-shedding.
The government departments are horrified by the drowning of five-year-old Michael Komape at a school pit latrine.
The nation is outraged that a Bishops School teacher has been sexually exploiting schoolboys – one of far too many incidents happening at South African schools on a daily basis.
And while the reaction is understandable, we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Why do we keep finding ourselves in this position? Horrified by what has happened, yet unable to fathom how we got to this point in the first place.
The need for risk assessment
While it is impossible to avoid every risk, it is evident that in so many of these circumstances – particularly those relating to children – risk assessment was severely lacking.
Even in the newsroom, when a journalist is going out on a story, a risk assessment is undertaken to ensure his or her safety. Where is the journalist going? Is it safe or should someone else attend? Will there be protests? What are the exit strategies?
This is not mundane paper pushing and ticking of boxes. This is a vital procedure to minimise the danger posed to an employee and colleague – and when it comes to the lives of our children, we should be even more rigid.
The Department of Education has policies in place to ensure the safety of all children, particularly for high-risk activities such as sport, school excursions and transport. It is the role of school governing bodies to ensure risk assessments are done, but what’s written on paper and what is implemented at schools is not always in sync.
There is still a culture of not questioning authority figures – in this case schools – and placing absolute trust in these institutions, believing that children’s safety is a priority.
While this is so often the case, these tragedies prove that more can be done.
Question your child’s school about their risk assessment policies. Are background checks being performed on all teachers?
What procedures are taken to ensure those tasked with driving children are capable to do so every day? What skills’ training do teachers undertake before accompanying children on high-risk excursions?
Don’t feel pressured into signing indemnity forms for school excursions and extra-mural activities. Question how your child is being protected rather than the institute.
Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions now, because for so many parents, it’s already too late.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
