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Staff Reporter
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) will hold a training workshop for school principals from special needs schools to focus particularly on the recent legislative amendments regarding sexual offences – Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act of 2021 which came into operation on 31 July 2022.
This legislation has, among others, amended the National Register of Sex Offenders by broadening its scope to not only protect children and mentally disabled persons but all vulnerable groups. It extends the list of persons entitled to submit applications to the Registrar of the National Register of Sex Offenders.
Further, it regulates the reporting duty of persons aware that sexual offences have been committed against vulnerable persons.
This training will occur a week after the South African Council for Educators (SACE) presented its 2022/23 Annual Report before the Parliamentary Education Portfolio Committee on 18 October.
The Report stated that SACE received 734 professional misconduct allegations against educators. Of these, 163 were related to sexual harassment of a learner (failure to report rape, rape of a learner, impregnating of a learner).
One hundred principals from all nine provinces are expected to attend this training, which aligns with the Union’s 2030 Vision, which is focused on creating a learning nation and servicing union members.
This workshop targets principals because they are the main drivers of change in schools so that they can steer their schools in the right direction. It is envisioned that they will use the information for their schools and cascade it to others through Professional Learning Communities.
The training session will also include presentations on mental health and other communicable diseases and leadership.
INSIDE EDUCATION