The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education and Recreation, Ms Wendy Makgate, has welcomed the intervention by President Jacob Zuma, who has appointed a Joint Task Team that includes cabinet Ministers to strengthen the Eastern Cape Department of Education.
“We cannot allow the chaos that characterises the Eastern Cape education, notwithstanding sixteen years of democracy, to continue forever,” Ms Makgate said.
“Education is alpha and omega of any nation, which is why the Freedom Charter says ‘The Doors of Learning and Culture shall be opened',” she emphasised.
“The committee has not yet talked about the intervention of the President, but as its Chairperson, I support and welcome the move and am optimistic that given concrete implementation, the Eastern Cape education is going to be what it should,” Ms Makgate said.
According to her, the poor state of education in the Eastern Cape had all along been calling for an intervention of this nature.
“As the committee Chairperson, I appeal to all the stakeholders of the Eastern Cape Education Department to join hands to make education work in the Eastern Cape.”
Enquiries:
Mava Lukani
Tel: 021 403 8738
Cell: 072 589 9355
E-mail: mlukani@parliament.gov.za
Source: Parliament of South Africa
