School Resource Officers (SROs) are law enforcement officers whose primary commitment is to ensure the safety of learners, prevent unlawful activities, and enforce local regulations. Their duties involve scanning school boundaries, acting upon relevant information, lending a helping hand to students, and carrying out unexpected searches to prevent criminal activities. In addition to their law enforcement duties, SROs also act as builders of relationships, creating robust ties with schools and communities. They play a vital role in establishing safer environments within schools and are crucial protectors amidst rising academic challenges.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has recently announced its plans to allocate over R76 million towards improving security measures in all schools across the province in the 2023/24 financial year budget. This budget, which includes significant infrastructure investment, teacher training programmes, and support plans amounting to R29.55 billion, is a major step towards creating a safer learning environment for students.