Cape Town - A booklet that provides “clear and simple” steps that pupils and teachers can take in challenging homophobic bullying, will be distributed to schools in the Western Cape.
The guide is called Safer Schools for All: Challenging homophobic bullying in schools.
It was developed by the Department of Basic Education and is aimed at teachers, principals, pupils, governing bodies and the management teams of schools.
According to the department, it was developed in response to reports of bullying on the basis of gender and sexuality, reported by parents, pupils, schools and NGOs “requesting intervention that spoke to the knowledge gap existing in many schools on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) individuals”.
The booklet says bullying and harassment of young LGBTI people were not adequately addressed by schools.
Terence Khala, a spokesperson for the department said: “It (the booklet) encourages school management teams to create affirming and safe environments for learners, educators and parents who are LGBTI or parents with children who are LGBTI to support and accept their children. The book further dispels the myths that exist around LGBTI identities to ensure that LGBTI individuals within the schooling community are not discriminated against”.
He said the booklet had already been distributed to provincial school safety officials. Jessica Shelver, spokeswoman for MEC of Education Debbie Schäfer, said the booklet would be distributed in Western Cape schools. She said the plan was to provide training on gender-based violence and homophobic bullying to schools and officials.
“The WCED views any form of bullying in a serious light, including homophobic bullying. The department applies the values and the requirements of the constitution to all situations. In terms of Section 9 of the Bill of Rights in the constitution, everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
“Section 9.3 of the bill says the state may not discriminate unfairly against anyone on the grounds of sexual orientation, among others, including race, gender, religion, or ethnic or social origin.”
According to the booklet, schools were also expected to draw up their own codes of conduct for pupils that address bullying in general, as well as homophobic bullying.
Matthew Clayton, research, advocacy and policy manager at the Triangle Project, said the guide was a step in the right direction, but a comprehensive roll out plan was needed.
“What we need to know is how they will implement it and how they will deal with schools that don’t comply.”
Pupils who need counselling or advice, can call the education department’s Safe Schools call centre at 0800 454 647.
Cape Argus