The Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, together with acting MEC of the Department of Education in Limpopo, Mr Jerry Ndou launched the 2015 School Governing Bodies (SGB) elections on the 7th of February 2015 at the Molemole District, Limpopo province. This is the third biggest election in South Africa, where 250 000 members are elected to serve on School Governing Bodies.
“Education is a ‘societal issue’ which requires parental and community support,” the Minister said, insisting that education is everyone’s responsibility. She went on to explain that, in her experience, a school performs better when it has an active, helpful and supportive SGB. A well-functioning and supportive school management team and responsible parents are a winning combination for any school.
It is not only important for school management to have parents or guardians who are involved, but also for the leaners themselves. Minister Motshekga shared a story of an illiterate gogo whose grandchild regularly read her the same story of a dog. The woman made an appointment with the teacher to enquire why the learner was not presented with new story books or taught new lessons. This account illustrates that a parent or a guardian can still be actively involved in their children’s education whether they are educated or not.
The SGB has different responsibilities, which include creating a school development plan, determining the policies, managing finances and budgets, and creating a school of academic excellence amongst others. These responsibilities were named and explained in detail.
Parents and guardians were encouraged to volunteer to serve on the SGB, vote in SGB elections, serve and support their school in the area of their expertise and support their children’s schoolwork, cultural and sport activities. The roadshow will move to Gauteng, in Tembisa on the 14th of February.
