the launch and sod turning ceremony, Arcelormittal donation: Mamelodi Primary
School
2 February 2009
Programme Director
Honourable Executive Mayor; Dr Gwen Ramokgopa
CEO of ArcelorMittal, Ms Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita
MEC for Education, Ms Angie Motshekga
The School Principal, Mr Sikhumbana
Staff, parents, learners and officials
Ladies and gentlemen
We are here today to mark the launch of a partnership between the Department
of Education and ArcelorMittal. This partnership will culminate in
ArcelorMittal constructing ten new schools in all the nine provinces and one
additional school in the Eastern Cape. This commitment from ArcelorMittal is to
the value of R250 million
The Department of Education has committed itself to improving the quality of
education through, amongst others, the delivery of adequate infrastructure to
our schools. This has been a mammoth task for us in Government since we took
over in 1994, as there were many disparities created by the past system.
Despite this, we have managed to build thousands of schools to date since 1994.
This includes replacement of dilapidated structures and building of completely
new schools. Since 1996, over 2 233 new schools have been constructed, 73 214
additional classrooms provided, 6 297 schools provided with water and 2 242
with sanitation and 11 574 with electricity.
International donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), companies and
individuals have assisted us in the building and rehabilitation of our schools.
To mention but a few, the European Union and the Netherlands, have played a key
role in this regard. Recently, in October 2008, I handed over 27 schools whose
rehabilitation was funded the EU â this is just an example of our good
relationship with our external partners.
There can be no debate that our country still requires increased investment
in school infrastructure, both to satisfy the right to basic education as well
as to improve the quality of learning and learning outcomes. Research evidence
points to a clear correlation between learner achievement and the richness of
teaching and learning materials and resources. We cannot expect our educators
to teach optimally and our learners to learn optimally in an environment that
is not conducive to teaching and learning. Given the backlogs and the
challenges that confront us in this regard, it is also clear that government
cannot do it alone without assistance from the private sector.
The role and participation of the private sector is critical to the success
of our quest to provide resources to our schools. Public-private partnerships
are important in order that services reach a broader base of the communities.
This is a partnership that we encourage and support, as it helps to improve the
quality of the education system. It is indeed true that an investment in
education is an investment in the future. This donation clearly illustrates the
commitment of our businesses community to education and the future of our
country.
This project will run over a period of seven years; from the current year.
The first school to be constructed is Mamelodi Primary School. Construction
plans for this school have been concluded and approved and a contractor has
already been appointed to commence with the construction. This school will be
completed towards the end of this year. Following Mamelodi Primary School, two
schools will be constructed in the Eastern Cape All identified schools will be
provided with all their needs, according to the Education Norms and Standards
for Infrastructure, e.g. classrooms, administration centres, libraries,
laboratories, ablution facilities, water, electricity, fencing, and furniture.
I have been privileged to see the architectural plan of this particular school;
I must say it is a State-of-the-Art design. I would therefore, not expect poor
or mediocre performance in this type of a facility.
The challenge remaining on the part of this school and the other nine
schools is to ensure that this facility is maintained in good form and that
every attempt should be made to preserve this investment for the benefit of
future generations. Our learners, educators and our parents need to know that
new facilities are not all that is needed for quality education. Quality
education depends also on the enthusiasm and dedication of learners and the
skills and commitment of educators. I sincerely hope that this new facility
will challenge learners, educators and parents to a renewed and intense
commitment to the importance of education-to create a better life for all.
We would also like to invite communities to make more use of our schools.
Remember they are public schools, not state schools! Use them after hours, for
social, cultural, religious or sporting activities. Make them the centre of
your community â a place that children feel at home. School sport events, or
music festivals, create a wonderful sense of community spirit, and help also to
seal some of the gashes that remain in the fabric of our society.
In conclusion, I would like to extend a special word of gratitude to
ArcelorMittal for their investment in this project and hope that this is a
beginning of a very fulfilling relationship with the Department of Education
and that this donation will challenge and spur other companies to emulate what
ArcelorMittal has done.
Thank you!
Issued by: Department of Education
2 February 2009
