The Ministers fraternal in the Eastern Cape is rising to new heights in their 'Ilima in Education' mobilising all stakeholders in the communities to join forces with the Department of Education on its Recovery Plan.
'We need to see 100% pass rate and the involvement of the entire community in education to restore the dignity of the Eastern Cape, education is a societal matter', says Ngcwelekazi Gwegwe who works for Provincial Treasury department as Financial Risk Manager and a leader of the Ministers Fraternal prayer team.
The prayer team has been working hard, setting up meetings with churches in the province, principals, Education Development Officers (EDOs) and communities, to help 2011 Grade 12 learners to achieve their education career. A survey was done and critical challenges were discovered as to why the matric pass rate was so low over the past years.
The following are some of the challenges:
- Many learners are heading families and have no time to concentrate on their studies, taking care of their siblings during exams
- Poverty is the challenge, where some learners don't have food, some end up not completing exams, some girls resort to moving in with boyfriends or (sugardady) older men to take care of them
- Due to poverty, some homes don’t have electricity or be able to buy candles for learners to study extra hours
- Some learners are just de-motivated and decide to commit suicide
- Some learners are staying with harsh parents or guardians who are anti-education, who load learners with domestic chores during exams
- Some domestic pressures make it difficult for learners to study
- Some don’t have enough time for study groups.
They have called upon Pastors and Church Ministers, Traditional Leaders, Councilors, School Governing Bodies (SGB), Parents, and Teachers to help all Grade 12 learners with their preparation for the final exams.
Reflecting on the prayer day that was held at the Department of Education on 14 July 2011, the Ministers Fraternal came up with a plan to hold camps for Grade 12 learners, starting two days before the final exams and end on the last day of exams. The camp will allow Grade 12 learners to focus on their studies and not have the interruption of daily house chores. Learners will also be motivated to have parents and the whole community support.
“If the whole country came together in the name of 'soccer' during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, why not come together and have 'Ilima in Education', adds Gwegwe.
Source: Eastern Cape Department of Education
