Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy called a meeting with principals from all Tshwane districts which was held at Pretoria Boys High School on 27 July 2009.
At the meeting, the MEC requested the principals to maximise their efforts and will into helping her to tackle the bull by its horns in schools within the province. She dubbed the campaign ‘It’s cool to be in school but ‘It’s not cool to be pregnant in school’.
The meeting was part of a build-up campaign for the Presidential Imbizo which will be held on 7 August 2009 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. President Jacob Zuma will meet with representatives of school principals from all nine provinces.
In her speech she reiterated the President's words “teachers have to be in class on time teaching and learners have to be in class learning, that is non-negotiable.” In her speech, she said that principals should build leadership amongst teachers, should work closely with school governing bodies and should visit the families of their learners.
The MEC announced major challenges that she would be concentrating on during her five year term, such as school safety, infrastructure in schools, delivery of quality education and school management. She emphasised the role of parents in schools and added that teachers should assist learners (Grade 9) in career choice and to keep them informed on the bursaries available or the national school loan fund.
Issued by: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government
27 July 2009
Source: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.education.gpg.gov.za/)
