B Marshoff: Adopt a School campaign

22 June 2006

Programme Director,
Members of the Executive Council,
Mayors and councillors,
Our partners from the business sector,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

We gather here today at this very special occasion to pledge our continued
support to initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education in our
province. I am in deed privileged to be in your midst during this occasion of
the Adopt a School Campaign. This is an initiative by the provincial government
to encourage individuals and business to adopt schools throughout the province
with a view to ensure conditions that are conducive for learning and teaching
in our schools for the ultimate benefit of learners.

I strongly believe that campaigns such as this one provide a window of hope
to all South Africans as we deal with the challenges of transformation in our
education system. The Adopt a School campaign is indicative of the successes
that can be achieved if all of us work together in pursuit of a common
objective.

It is important for us as South Africans to dedicate ourselves to building
unity in action for change. We are obliged to explore ways of dealing with the
difficulties we are faced with especially with regard to the development of our
education system.

Ladies and gentlemen, the implementation of the Bantu Education Policy was
devastating and detrimental to the lives of our people, resulting in high
levels of illiteracy, innumeracy and a lack of skills amongst our people.

It is therefore imperative to note that our current government inherited an
educational system that was insensitive and repressive. This government has
identified the development of policies to redress educational inequalities as a
priority matter.

The South African Schools Act, which replaced the apartheid education laws,
asserts that all children have a right to access basic and quality education
without any form of discrimination.

The rights of our children are also deeply entrenched in our new
constitution which stipulates that all children have a right to family care or
parental care or to appropriate alternative care when removed from the family
environment. All children have the right to basic nutrition, shelter, health
care and social services.

The constitution further establishes the right of all South Africans to
basic education and it makes it compulsory for the state to uphold this right
for all its citizens.

Although it will take some time to address the educational imbalances of the
past tremendous progress has been made in the development of the education
system in our country. We should realise that improving education in South
Africa is a national priority that requires involvement and engagement
throughout all levels of our society.

As you know government has launched the Accelerated and Shared Growth
Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA), an initiative led by the Deputy
President. It is important to note that the success of the AsgiSA programme
requires skills like an understanding of maths and science that are relevant to
the challenges of society and the economy.

The role, therefore, of the private sector in the education system cannot be
over emphasised if we are to achieve the objectives of AsgiSA and other
government interventions. Our ability to accelerate service delivery and to
improve skills acquisition in the country will be significantly advanced
through public private partnerships. Government intervention such as the Joint
Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) will only be possible if we
all appreciate the fact that our success lies in our ability to work together
for a common objective.

One of the goals that we have set ourselves in the second decade of our
freedom is to ensure that we consolidate the programmes that have been
introduced and strengthen our education system with a view to increase the
quality of output. In this regard government is committed to ensuring that it
improves the quality of learning and teaching that takes place in our
schools.

However, given the backlogs and the challenges that confront us in this
regard it is clear that government cannot do it alone. The role and
participation of the private sector is critical to the success of our quest to
provide resources to our schools. Public private partnerships (PPP) are
important in order that services reach a broader base of the communities. It is
also clear that such partnerships would also transcend the provision of
financial resources and may also involve intellectual partnerships and the
transfer of skills.

However, partnerships should be co-ordinated in order to avoid the
duplication of resources as well as the concentration of resources in the same
group of beneficiaries. It is also important that partnerships that are entered
into must be sustainable into the future if they are to make any meaningful
impact.

It is our view that schools are more than only a place of learning and
teaching. Our schools should become centres of community life. Other than
provide an opportunity for teachers to offer exciting and modern curriculum
activities and for learners to participate in these activities, schools should
also be used to provide access to numerous services for the development of the
community.

Through the Free State Growth and Development Strategy (FSGDS) this
provincial government has committed itself to reducing poverty through
sustainable human and social development programmes. One of our main objectives
in this regard is to improve the functional literacy rate from 69,2 percent to
85 percent by 2014, this we can only achieve through amongst others through
improved access and quality formal education.

To respond to the call of the Freedom Charter, that the doors of learning
shall be open to all we need the assistance of our social partners to assist
schools with the provision basic facilities and resources. Constructive
partnerships need to be built in an effort to turn our education system
around.

Let me take the opportunity to thank all of you for being here this evening.
I am confident that through your support and co-operation we will in deed
realise the intended objectives of the Adopt a School campaign.

Thank you!

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Free State Provincial Government
22 June 2006