Opening address by the Minister of Basic Education, Honourable Mrs. Angie Motshekga, MP, at the Ministerial Breakfast with DBE Partners - “Mandela Day” in Support of 1000 libraries
Programme Director: Acting Director-General Mrs. Palesa Tyobeka,
Deputy Minister of Basic Education,
Representatives of various Business organisations,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you all for taking the time to join us at this important meeting to talk about the most important subject in education – books and libraries. Books and libraries are the bedrock of a functioning and well-resourced school environment.
The year 2015 marks the sixth anniversary of the International Nelson Mandela Day. The United Nations (UN) officially declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day in November 2009, recognising Mandela's "values and his dedication to the service of humanity" and acknowledging his contribution "to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world".
In 2014 the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon characterised the Nelson Mandela Day thus: “Nelson Mandela Day is a call to action. Each of us can celebrate this day by helping to address real problems in our communities. Together we can give great meaning to our celebration by paving the way for a better future."
Programme Director through the Nelson Mandela International Day will seek to honour and celebrate the life of Isithwalandwe and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate uTata uMadiba.
Madiba, a member and leader of the African National Congress, dedicated his life to the struggle for the liberation of his people and the people of the world. Madiba’s humility, compassion and humanity earned him the love and respect of the people of South Africa, Africa and the World. His abiding vision was for a society where no person was exploited, oppressed or despised by another. His life was dedicated to the building of a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa and a just world order.
In the context of education Madiba once declared quite correctly that: “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
The Department of Basic Education intends to use this opportunity presented by the 2015 Nelson Mandela International Day to mobilise resources and support from various sectors of society around the enormous task of improving the educational experience for underprivileged children through the provision of 1000 Libraries and thousands of books.
Libraries are seen as a key lever in education achievements because they provide access to reading materials, space for reading and pursuance of literacy endeavours. Libraries are essential to the promotion of reading and almost critical to the improvement of literacy.
It is within this context Programme Director that earlier this year during the DBE Budget Vote speech, I announced our intention to provide 1 000 libraries to needy schools per year from 2015 until 2019. Our meeting this morning is to put the plan into motion. We are making a call to action to all different sectors of society to partner with us in making this a reality.
In this regard, we are requesting you to join hands with us in providing these needy schools with one or more of the following:
- In schools that have existing spaces that may be converted into school libraries
- The provision of reading corners, and
- Converted container libraries.
We are indeed mindful of the wonderful work already done by business, NGOs, communities and individuals who have volunteered to establish or refurbish school libraries and classroom library corners.
As part of a consolidating all activities for maximum impact we have developed a four-year plan (2015-19) called, “The Reading Promotion and Provision of Library and Information Services (LIS) Plan”. This plan seeks to give impetus to the National Reading Campaign which include, amongst others, the provisioning of at least 1 000 School Libraries per annum, commencing this July until 2019. The overarching theme of the Reading Campaign emanates from the inaugural Reading Roundtable Discussion we held earlier this year under the theme, “A reading nation is a winning nation”.
The Plan includes activities such as the implementation of reading programmes, the involvement of communities in promoting reading, the revitalisation of existing school libraries, and the library assistants’ learnership programme for the youth.
We will officially launch the 1 000 School Libraries Campaign on Mandela Day, 18 July 2015 as part of our efforts in getting the nation to read.
Reading and writing catch-up programmes for early grade learners are critical, we need to work together as partners in making South Africa a reading society. International, regional and national research identifies that support for reading activities, and stimulation for the practice of reading and writing in all aspects of society and in our schools in particular, is crucial for deepening literacy and numeracy in developing countries. Getting young people to read and write for school, for leisure, and even in the world of work, is a critical aspect of the development of the social fabric of our country. It must occupy all our minds.
Ladies and gentlemen, we must become a reading nation!
I therefore, request all of you as our partners to take this great opportunity of Mandela Day 2015 to support this initiative by investing in the lives of our learners by contributing a library which will have measurable outcomes.
The folder in front of you has a comprehensive document that highlights the options of libraries that your organisation can commit to in contributing to the 1 000 School Library campaign. With that is a pledge card to formally seal your commitment by identifying a school of your choice and the nature of library you wish to donate.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are encouraging all communities, and in particular the youth, to donate time, books, and even space as well as basic furniture and shelving to support reading in schools in their communities. We take up the theme of A reading nation, is a winning nation more seriously, and mobilise all South Africans to take up this challenge in the name of uTata Madiba, who so cherished education. I wish to encourage the partners of the Department of Basic Education, to be actively involved in this endeavour.
Conclusion
In the words of the former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan “Literacy is a key lever of change and a practical tool of empowerment on each of the three main pillars of sustainable development: economic development, social development and environmental protection.”
In conclusion let me share with you uTata Madiba’s three basic principles that guided his 67 years of service to humanity. These are:
- Free yourself
- Free others
- Serve everyday
Indeed Together We Move South Africa Forward!
I thank you!
