Address by the Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Makgabo Reginah Mhaule, during the Minister’s Meeting with District Directors, held in Pretoria
Programme Director
Honourable Minister, Mrs. Angie Motshekga,
Members of Parliament, Acting Director-General, Dr. Whittle,
Deputy Directors-General, Chief Directors,
Esteemed District Directors, and senior officials of the Department of Basic Education,
Good morning, and welcome to this gathering of our education family. It brings me great joy to have the opportunity to engage with you all in person. These meetings hold immense value as we come together to share best practices and collectively strive for an improved education system.
Education is a fundamental right of every child, and it carries with it a tremendous responsibility on our part to ensure the provision of quality education at all levels. I am delighted that the Early Childhood Development (ECD) function has now been transferred to the Department of Basic Education. This shift enables us to begin nurturing our children from the earliest stages of their development. Although it is an enormous task, I have unwavering faith in our ability to rise to the challenge.
Ladies and gentlemen, we must never tire in our fight against the social ills plaguing our communities. The rape and murder of young girls remain a grave concern in our country. Just recently, a seventeen-year-old Grade 12 learner fell victim to such a horrific crime in Soshanguve. It is particularly disheartening that this atrocity occurred during Child Protection Week, but in truth, there is no appropriate time for the killing of innocent children.
This emphasizes the crucial role of societal involvement in education. Let us ensure that our Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC) structures are fully functional, from the school level to the district and provincial levels. I had the privilege of visiting the Gqeberha community as part of our School Monitoring & Stakeholder Outreach program, accompanied by the Eastern Cape MEC for Education, Mr. Gade, and the Executive Mayors. We emphasized the importance of working together, and the community members were encouraged to take ownership of the schools in their vicinity.
During these interactive sessions, community members raised concerns about scholar transport. I am deeply saddened by the recent tragedy in the Western Cape that claimed the lives of five young souls. I urge you to prioritize and address such matters with utmost care and diligence.
Furthermore, I recently visited Mpumalanga to monitor the Egg Nutrition Project. This initiative promotes healthy eating habits and the establishment of agriculture in rural schools, providing not only nourishment but also employment opportunities. Once again, we collaborated closely with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development.
Minister, I believe we can proudly highlight our success as Political Champions in implementing the District Development Model (DDM). However, as the education sector, we must lead the nation in this endeavor. I implore all districts and provinces to actively participate in the implementation of the DDM, as it has the potential to bring about positive change in the lives of our people through improved service delivery. Collaboration is the key to achieving success.
Today, we gather to address the agenda at hand. I encourage each and every one of you to actively participate, for it is at the implementation level where we gain valuable insights into what works and what requires further attention.
Africa.
Thank you, and let us proceed with our meeting.
