The departmental spokesperson, Elias Malindi, tells OFM News that the summit follows the recent incidents that threatened the safety of teachers and learners at schools. He says schools in the province have since experienced a huge volume of incidents that sometimes resulted in the loss of lives which is something the department opposes very strongly.

OFM News reported on numerous incidents, amongst others the death of a 24-year-old Mathematics teacher, Gadimang Daniel Mokolobate, who was stabbed with a knife by a 17-year-old learner at Ramotshere High School in Dinokana outside Zeerust last year. Malindi says in addressing challenges of school safety, the department is hosting a provincial school safety summit and it will provide a platform for debate and reaching amicable solutions to ensure improved safety measures at schools.

"It also has the potential of increasing stakeholder participation in school governance as their participation is almost non-existent," Malindi said.

OFM News