NN 11/2024
VERVOER VAN LEERDERS
Die verpligtinge van skole, skoolhoofde en individuele opvoeders rakende die vervoer van leerders kan gevind word in die Regulasies vir Veiligheidsmaatreëls by Openbare Skole (gepubliseer in 2001 en gewysig in 2006), as aanhangsel tot die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet van 1996.
1. Algemene belangrike bepalings waarop gelet moet word:
- Die Regulasies bevat ‘n definisie van ‘’skool aktiwiteit‘’ wat ook reis na en van die skool mag impliseer, vandaar die insluit van sekere reisreëlings in die Regulasies.
- Daar is verder ‘n algemene verpligting in die Regulasies wat vereis dat leerders beveilig word, naamlik Regulasie 8A(2).
- Die Regulasies het verder gedetailleerde bepalings wat na versekering en versekeraars verwys, naamlik Regulasie 8A(3),(4),(5) en (6).
2. Wat is ‘n skoolaktiwiteit?
Enige opvoedkundige-, kulturele-, sport- of sosiale-aktiwiteit van die skool wat by die skool of op `n ander perseel gehou word, word as `n skoolaktiwiteit geklassifiseer.
3. Moet daar aansoek gedoen word om te reis?
Alhoewel elke provinsie sy eie administratiewe reëls het, skryf die Regulasies voor dat ‘n spesifieke vorm gebruik moet word:
“8A Skoolaktiwiteite
(i) 'n Openbare skool moet verseker dat:
(a) dit die aansoekvorm wat in bylae 1 by die regulasies beoog word, in tweevoud voltooi indien die skoolaktiwiteit leerdervervoer behels;
(b) die aansoek goedgekeur word deur ʼn amptenaar wat die provinsiale onderwysdepartement verteenwoordig, voordat sodanige skoolaktiwiteit onderneem word; en
(c) 'n afskrif van die goedgekeurde aansoekvorm aan die skool oorhandig en die oorspronklike bewaar word deur die amptenaar wat die provinsiale onderwysdepartement verteenwoordig.
2) 'n Openbare skool moet maatreëls tref om gedurende enige skoolaktiwiteit die veiligheid van leerders te verseker, wat insluit:
(a) versekering teen moontlike ongelukke, beserings, algemene mediese uitgawes, hospitalisasie en diefstal, na gelang van die beskikbaarheid van finansiering;
(b) die versekering, sover redelik moontlik, dat leerders te alle tye onder die toesig is van ʼn opvoeder wat die leerders vergesel;
(c) versoek gerig aan ouers of ander volwassenes om te help met die toesighouding van leerders;
(d) die versekering dat die opvoeder-leerder-verhouding minstens:
(i) een opvoeder, ouer of ander volwassene vir elke 20 leerders sal wees vir laerskole; of
(ii)een opvoeder, ouer of ander volwassene vir elke 30 leerders sal wees vir hoërskole; en
(e) die versekering dat geslag in die volwassene-leerder-verhouding in ag geneem word.”
4. Aan watter vereistes moet voertuie wat leerders vervoer, voldoen?
Regulasie (8)D bepaal dat ‘n voertuig wat vir die vervoer van leerders gebruik word 'n bewys van versekering sowel as 'n padwaardigheidsertifikaat moet hê.
5. Aan watter reëls is bestuurders onderhewig?
Bestuurders moet 'n geldige bestuurslisensie hê asook ‘n professionele bestuurspermit (PRDP) in sekere omstandighede. 'n Professionele bestuurspermit word vereis wanneer leerders vervoer word in ‘n voertuig wat 12 of meer passasiers, insluitende die bestuurder, kan vervoer.
6. Wat is die vereistes rondom die voertuig waaraan voldoen moet word?
- Versekering en padwaardigheidsertifikate;
- Versekering ten opsigte van passasiers- aanspreeklikheid;
- 'n Geldige bestuurslisensie en 'n PRDP indien nodig;
- · Elke voertuig moet ‘n werkende brandblusser hê; en
- · Dit mag verder vereis word dat daar ‘n aflos drywer en vervoer ondersteuningstelsel moet wees.
7. Moet ‘n voertuig aan inspeksie onderwerp word?
Die skoolhoof, verantwoordelike opvoeder of ‘n lid van die skool se beheerliggaam moet tussenbeide tree indien daar enige twyfel bestaan oor die padwaardigheid van ‘n voertuig wat vir die vervoer van leerders gebruik word.
8. Mag 'n werknemer verplig word deur 'n skool om ‘n PDP te verkry?
Weens die feit dat ekstra- en buitemuurse aktiwiteite deel vorm van ‘n opvoerder se kernpligte, kan daar van ‘n opvoeder verwag word om ‘n PDP-lisensie te bekom aangesien die vervoer van leerders 'n inherente vereiste van ‘n opvoeder se pligte kan wees. Elke situasie sal egter op sy eie meriete hanteer moet word en daar kan wel omstandighede wees waaronder werknemers nie gedwing kan word nie. Die kostes verbonde aan die verkryging en die hernuwing van ‘n PDP is die verantwoordelikheid van die skool.
TRANSPORT OF LEARNERS
The obligations of schools, principals and individual educators relating to the transport of learners can be found in the Regulations for Safety Measures at Public Schools (published in 2001 and amended in 2006), as annexures to the South African Schools Act of 1996.
1. Important general provisions which should be noted:
- The Regulations contain a definition of “school activity’’ which might imply travel to and from school. Hence, the Regulations refer to certain matters related to travel.
- Additionally, there is a general requirement in the Regulations which requires that learners must be protected namely Regulation 8A(2).
- The Regulations further contain detailed stipulations referring to insurance and insurers namely Regulation 8A(3), (4), (5) and (6).
2. What is a school activity?
Any educational, cultural, sporting or social activity of the school, held at the school or at an alternative location, is classified as a school activity.
3. Must an application be made in order to travel?
Although each province has its own administrative rules, the use of a specific form is prescribed in the Regulations:
“8A School activities
(i) A public school must ensure that:
(a) it completes the application form contemplated in Schedule 1 to the Regulations in duplicate if the school activity involves transporting of learners;
(b) the application is approved by an official representing the provincial education department before such school activity is undertaken: and
(c) a copy of the approved application form is handed to the school and the original is kept by the official representing the provincial education department.
(2) A public school must take measures to ensure the safety of learners during any school activity, including –
(a) insuring against accidents, injuries, general medical expenses, hospitalisation and theft that may occur, depending on the availability of funds;
(b) ensuring, where reasonably practicable, that learners are under the supervision of an accompanying educator at all times;
(c) requesting parents or other adults to assist in the supervision of learners;
(d) ensuring that the educator-learner ratio is at least –
(i) one educator, parent or other adult for every 20 learners in primary schools; or
(ii) one educator, parent or other adult for every 30 learners in secondary schools; and
(e) ensuring that, in respect of the adult-learner ratio, gender is taken into account.”
4. What are the requirements for vehicles which transport pupils?
Regulation (8)D states that a vehicle used to transport learners, must have insurance and a roadworthy certificate.
5. With what rules must drivers comply?
Drivers must be in possession of a valid driver’s licence and, in certain circumstances, of a professional driving permit (PRDP). A professional driving permit is needed when learners are transported in a vehicle certified to carry 12 or more passengers, driver included.
6. What requirements relating to the vehicle must be satisfied?
- Insurance and roadworthy certificates;
- passenger liability insurance; and
- valid driver’s licence and PRDP if required;
- each vehicle must have a working fire extinguisher; and
- It may further be required that there must be a substitute driver and transport support system.
7. Must a vehicle be inspected?
The principal, responsible educator or member of the school governing body must intervene if there is any doubt about the roadworthiness of a vehicle used for the transport of learners.
8. May an employee be forced by a school to obtain a PDP?
Due to the fact that extra-curricular and extramural activities form part of an educator's core duties, an educator may be expected to obtain a PDP license as the transport of learners can be an inherent requirement of an educator's duties. However, every situation must be assessed on the facts of the specific matter as there may be circumstances when educators cannot be forced to obtain a PDP. The costs associated with the acquisition and the renewal of a PDP are the responsibility of the school.
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