Programme director
MEC’s present here
Executive mayors and mayors
The leadership of the Dimension DATA
Traditional leaders
The Principal and teachers of Hudson Ntswanwisi School
Other Principals and teachers of schools present here
Learners
Parents and guardians
Ladies and gentlemen
Good morning!
It is always with great pleasure to be part of occasions that are aimed at improving the standard of learning for children and also enhancing the skills level of our teachers. We are very honoured this morning to join this function for we understand its significance in the development of this learning centre. As you know, we have declared 2010, “The year of intensive learning and teaching,” and all our efforts are directed at realising this objective. We are working very hard to prepare our learners for the matric examinations as part of reaching the 60 percent target we declared as our desirable target.
We are making an appeal to parents, guardians, teachers, learners, civil society movements, traditional leaders, and members of the business community to ensure that schools are used as centres for intensive learning and teaching. We must have every school age children being afforded the opportunity to acquire education through opening the doors of learning.
Programme director,
The moment under which we are presently living is dominated and dictated by the evolution of technology. It is cardinal for centres of learning to be empowered with technological equipments in the form of computers, internet, experimental equipments and others. We have made several calls to the private sector to work together with government in all ways possible in the cause of improving the state of our schools, especially the rural and township schools, to meet the demands of our time.
Today, we are very much pleased because Dimension Data has responded affirmatively to our call. One of our objectives, in terms of enabling quality education, is to redress the socio-economic imbalances between rural and urban schools by modernising rural schools and equipping them with computers and laboratories. We are also emphasising the enhancement of teacher skills and capacity for the purpose of offering modernised programmes that comply with the current needs of our societal development.
Dimension Data’s e-learning programme, which includes teacher training on the programme, demonstrates how both objectives can be achieved in a single integrated and appropriately tailored but universally applicable approach to education. It also demonstrates the power that public private partnerships have to enable governments to produce skills relevant to the present and future socioeconomic demands of the citizens.
The establishment of an e-learning centre at this school should be welcomed as another means of bridging the gap between the privileged and under privileged schools. This facility will enable learners to learn how to use a computer, something which has become a basic requirement in many employment requirements. It is also true that this facility will assist in preparing the learners for post matric education.
Programme director,
We are continuing with our programme of building infrastructure in the schools and also employing more skilled teachers in order to realise our resolve of creating a conducive environment for learning and teaching. We are also working within constricted resources in ensuring that study and teaching materials arrive on time at schools.
We have moved many visible steps on the improvement of schools infrastructure and reskilling our educators. Although we should indicate that in certain instances we are still experiencing difficulties which are mainly caused by individual behaviour of some teachers and learners. In this regard, we are referring to teachers who arrive at school late and leave early. We are speaking about teachers who arrive at school drunk or drink during the school hours and also teachers who do not teach learners.
Schools must take actions against learners who are not adhering to school rules. As learners you must know that your sole and primary responsibility at school is to learn, learn and learn very hard. Our role as government, together with our private partners, is to create a conducive space for you to excel.
Programme director,
We should always bear in mind that the future of our children is high on our priority list. We are investing in the proper education of our children in order to secure a better tomorrow for them and a bright future for our country and our province in particular.
We will remain indebted to Dimension Data for this investment in the future of the province and the country. And we wish you growth in your business ventures so that you can assist more. We trust that other members of the private sector will learn from your deeds and commence their ways of investing in the education of our children.
Working together, we can do more!
Thank you!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government
6 June 2010
Source: Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government (http://www.limpopo.gov.za/)
