Incidents of burglary dropped considerably during the December holiday in 2008, compared to previous years, according to Safe Schools, a division of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).

In 2006, schools reported 58 cases. This dropped to 48 in 2007 and 24 in 2008, according to statistics compiled by the Safe Schools Call Centre.

Safe Schools has worked with schools and other partners to implement special measures to reduce break-ins at schools during holidays. These include holiday programmes and extra patrols, among others.

"Security is everybody's responsibility," said Nariman Khan, head of Safe Schools. "The manager of the school need to ensure that reasonable practicable measures are put in place to safe guard the school."

The WCED provides an alarm system linked to armed response as the first line of defence.

"The principal and his safety committee, a sub committee of the governing body, need to ensure that the alarms are tested on a regular basis by having spot checks to ensure rapid response from the alarm company," she said.

"The principal must also ensure that the alarm is activated before schools are closed. It has been proven that an alarm system if properly installed, maintained and backed with effective armed response is the most inexpensive deterrent to vandalism, violence, theft, arson, gangsters and intruders."

Other security systems funded by the WCED include safety gates, burglar bars and mesh wire at selected schools. Safe Schools will also assist other schools, where possible.

"Schools need to develop partnerships with their communities to ensure buy-in and support. In areas where we have buy-in of the community, we see a reduction in vandalism cases," Ms Khan said.