The December Danger — Why Forcing Teachers to Work When No Learners Are There Turns Them Into Easy Targets for Criminals

Every December, South African teachers enter one of the most dangerous periods of the school year. While learners enjoy holiday freedom and communities settle into festive routines, teachers are required to:

finalize marks

complete reports

submit files

attend moderation sessions

clean and pack classrooms

finalize SA-SAMS submissions

complete handover documents

This administrative period happens in the worst possible conditions: empty school buildings with minimal supervision, weak security, and predictable working patterns.

Criminals know this.
Teachers know this.
The Department knows this.

Yet the policy remains unchanged.

Schools in December have:

no learner presence

no activity

no crowds

no noise

minimal staff

predictable schedules

unlocked offices

open classrooms

This creates a perfect opportunity for criminals to:

enter unnoticed

monitor teacher movements

target isolated victims

demand keys to storage rooms

steal school equipment

hijack teachers on premises

escape undetected

Teachers become the only human presence in a deserted facility.

Media reports across provinces document cases of:

teachers held at gunpoint

robberies in school offices

laptops and bags stolen

staff hijacked at school gates

assaults in staff rooms

criminals demanding ICT equipment keys

armed groups breaking into schools during admin sessions

The pattern is consistent and well-documented.

Yet DBE insists on strict attendance requirements in December.

Most schools lack:

proper fencing

camera systems

alarmed offices

armed response contracts

secure gates

panic buttons

night guards

competent day guards

Many guards are untrained and unarmed, some elderly and unable to intervene against armed attackers.

This is not security.
This is window dressing.

Teachers report:

fear of being alone at school

high anxiety during report season

early-morning dread

trauma after assaults

reluctance to return to work

long-term stress during year-end

The emotional cost is heavy.

A school cannot motivate teachers when it cannot protect them.

The Department’s insistence on physical presence for admin work—despite digital tools—reveals outdated thinking.

Teachers could:

submit electronically

work from secure environments

collaborate remotely

scan and upload documents

complete curriculum reports online

But policy remains stuck in the past, risking teachers’ lives for tasks that do not require on-site presence.

: A Traditional Conservative Stance

Conservatism prioritizes law, order, safety, and practical governance.

Forcing teachers into abandoned, unsafe schools during December is reckless. Admin work should be remote, or security should be upgraded to professional standards. Protecting educators must take precedence over outdated bureaucratic expectations.

Conclusion

Stay clear, stay curious, and let your learning sparkle.