Gauteng MEC for Education, Barbara Creecy recently met various leaders of faith based organisations at Sacred Heart College in observatory. The aim of the meeting was to discuss how the faith based community can assist the department in ensuring that learners, teachers and parents focus on ensuring that the renewal of the education system is achieved. The meeting was attended by amongst others; Muslims, Jewish, Christians, Catholics and other religious organisations
Addressing the house, MEC Barbara Creecy implored those who gathered at the meeting to help the department in preaching President Jacob Zuma non-negotiables on education.
MEC Creecy indicated that the key provincial goals that the Department of Education plans to address in the next five years, included ensuring that Gauteng has effective schools and learning institutions, enabling young people to make the transition from school to further education and or work that provides further training opportunities, strengthening partnerships with all stakeholders, resulting in education becoming a societal priority.
“As a department we are bothered by the fact that learners lacked discipline and that teachers were not teaching the whole curriculum which made it impossible for learners to perform. I'm also concerned about the quality of teaching and the lack of standardised lesson plans and practical assignments and tasks,” commented MEC.
Reverend Gift Moerane from the South African Council of Churches (SACC) said that the call by Gauteng Department of Education clearly showed that religion still played a major part in the circles of education. “This shows that the government did not throw away religion in education as previously thought. As a parents and a religious leader we should ensure that our children leaves early from home so that he or she can be on time at school. We should also ensure that they do their homework diligently,” said Reverend Moerane.
Rabbi Kacev, a representative from the Jewish community indicated that they were willing to join hands with the education department in instilling dignity in public schools.
“It was very vital for the effective or performing schools to work with none effective poor performing schools with the hope of achieving positive results. This will go a long way in helping those under performing schools,” said Rabi Kacev.
The Muslim community also pledged their support in changing the education system and indicated that they are also willing to assist in any way possible. Soon after that it became clear that all religious leaders were ready to form partnership with education.
The Head of Department Mr Boy Ngobeni assured the faith based community that the department was going to look into their proposals and solutions and will later inform them regarding the way forward.
Issued by: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government
30 March 2010
Source: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government
(http://www.education.gpg.gov.za/)
