KwaZulu-Natal Acting Premier Senzo Mchunu has called on the people of KwaZulu-Natal to intensify efforts aimed at eradicating illiteracy in the province. He was speaking during the Provincial Literacy Celebrations in Mandeni today. The event was attended by members of his cabinet, legislature and local mayors.
“This event today provides the opportunity to celebrate hard earned successes and I wish to congratulate all the learners for their achievements.”
“At the start of the new term of office, we committed this government to creating a better future for all. The foundations of this future are dependent on the steps we take to develop the human potential of all our citizens young and old; rich and poor, educated and uneducated, employed and unemployed, rural and urban.”
“For us to achieve a better life for all we need our citizens to be empowered. One of the fundamental requirements for empowerment is to have citizens who are healthy, educated and skilled.”
“Research indicates that 13, 2 million people in South Africa have less than a grade 9 education. A further 4.2 million adults have no schooling. Most of these people are unable to perform basic day-to-day activities such as opening a bank account, signing a document, reading a pay slip and reading a newspaper. This is the biggest challenge which may hamper human development.”
“The level of human development in a country is related to levels of educational achievement including levels of literacy. We recognize that in order to deal with the challenges of unemployment, poverty, food security, crime, HIV and AIDS, we have to eradicate illiteracy.”
“It is for these reasons that government has invested resources to ensure that the majority of our employees, at all levels, are educated. As much as you are employees of this government you are also citizens and your development has a positive impact on both your personal and work life and the lives of those you share it with.”
“The Adult Education and Training programme is aimed at developing employees holistically. That is why we are also ensuring that our employees are given the opportunity to achieve the General Education and Training Certificate and Further Education and Training Certificate.”
“As government we believe that it is important to create a work environment where the Adult Education and Training Programme can thrive. We must create environments where there is excitement about learning, personal growth, performance and service excellence.
“We must create environments where learning is accessible and happens both in the formal setting of a classroom but also at work through mentoring and coaching.
“We must create environments that promote learning, self-development and growth. We must create environments where people take responsibility for their own development. We must create environments where each individual takes the responsibility for the development of the other.”
“Employees value their organization when they are in an environment where their development is a strategic priority and connected to the vision, mission and strategic goals of the organization. It is therefore important that connecting our human resources talent with strategic goals is done at all levels of the organization including general workers and not only those in management positions.”
"The fact that we have nine departments participating in the Adult Education and Training programme is a great achievement. However, we need to do a survey to determine the number of staff who have not accessed the programme but wish to do so and to identify what further skills development is needed.”
Enquiries:
Ndabezinhle Sibiya
Spokesperson for the Office of the Premier ‘
082 3754742
or
Interviews with Acting Premier
Muntu Lukhozi
0825625965
