The President of the Republic, His Excellency Jacob Zuma will interact with school principals from around the country in Durban on Friday 7 August 2009, as part of taking further the drive to improve the quality of education in the country.
Education is one of the key five priorities of government over the next five years.
The President announced in the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on 3 June 2009, that he would meet with school principals to discuss the revival of education.
“The meeting will discuss the development of strong partnerships to promote effective learning and teaching in schools. The President will share his vision for quality education. He will want to hear from school principals what can be done to improve the quality of learning and teaching, and to strengthen partnerships that will take education and skills development to a higher level in the country,” said the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga.
Minister Motshekga added that the President will also use the opportunity to promote the non-negotiable in education mentioned in the State of the Nation Address, that, “Teachers should be in school, in class, on time, teaching, with no neglect of duty and no abuse of pupils! The children should be in class, on time, learning, be respectful of their teachers and each other, and do their homework.”
The meeting will be attended by more than 1500 school principals from all provinces, which were selected to ensure the representation of a wide range of schools from underprivileged to well equipped schools, performing to non-performing schools, urban and rural.
The President will be accompanied by Minister Motshekga, Minister of Higher Education Dr Blade Nzimande and Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, Mr Collins Chabane as well as Premiers and Education MECs.
The meeting will be followed by report back sessions in the provinces to be undertaken by provincial education departments.
Media are invited to cover the event.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: 7 August 2009
Time: 09h00
Venue: Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC
Media are strictly required to RSVP to gain access to the venue.
RSVP:
Terrence Manase
Cell: 082 338 6707
E-mail: Terrence@po.gov.za or
Issued by: The Presidency
5 August 2009
