Programme director
Mr Tim Murray SITFE Chairman
Mr Bongani Linda SASA Chairman and Trustee
Mr Suresh Naidoo CANEGROWERS Chairman and Trustee
Mr Johann van der Merwe
Nkonzo Mhlongo
Nathi Kunene
Thandeka Mazibuko
Tsb Sugar Executive
Charmaine Boshoff
Organisation Manager
Graham Rolfe, Komati Mill Manager
Etienne Terblanche
Lucky Mthembu
Director Advancement Office, Mari Booysen, Tshwane University of Technology and her team
Representatives from Lowveld College of Agriculture
I want to extend my profound appreciation for the invitation extended to the Department of Education to be part of this event. This event takes place following an unprecedented industrial action by public servants which affected the delivery of education in a bad way.
As the strike action was proceeding, I made a call to all structures and organisations including the Council of Churches and the Moral Regeneration Movement to assist in ensuring that they open their doors to help learners with their studies.
Above this call, the department introduced programmes such as the Radio Support Programme for learners, a Dial a Tutor programme, insertion of learner supplement in local newspapers. Learners can also tune in to SABC Television and DSTV Education channels. Currently, we are in consultation with unions planning Saturdays and spring classes to mitigate the impact of the strike.
Obviously, the success of these programmes would be measured by the number of learners who will pass at the end of the year.
I am reliably told that when some of our learners pass, the Sugar Industry Fund Education will take over and ensure that the learners are assisted to access institutions of higher learners. This is very crucial not only to the departement but to the Nation and especially learners from the deprived communities.
The access to the fund is good news, a relief and I want to upfront express my appreciation to the visionary leadership of the sugar industry in this country. I have read your profile and I am really encouraged by what you stand for. I have learned that among other contributions your institution adds impetus by:
- Ensuring that there is no child in and around the sugar region learning under a tree, a mud house or in any other dangerous environment.
- Funding for the construction of classrooms; administrative offices and toilets over the past five years.
- Increasing the number of high potential learners from socially and academically disadvantaged backgrounds to access quality education and training in the field of Agriculture and Science within the sugar cane growing institutions.
- Awarding bursaries to students pursuing studies in Engineering, Agriculture and Science in institutions within the sugar-growing region. The list goes on.
This is commendable and I must say that your decision to extend your resourcefulness to Mpumalanga povince is more than welcomed. This year there are 55 842 fulltime learners who have enrolled to write the Grade 12 Examinations. Of these figures will write Agricultural Science.
What has been worrying the department was the pass rate over the past two years in Agricultural Science as it has been below the 22 % mark. Your intervention and involvement must help to encourage our learners and communities to have more interest in the field of Agricultural Science.
Collectively, we must conceptualise an advocacy programme targeting teachers, learners and parents. Such a campaign must include the opening of your institutions to learners to visit and gain practical experience of the industry and understand the requirements at an early age.
Programme director, The Executive Council has directed the Department of Education to develop a frame work to re-view the Human Resource Development Strategy of the province. I invite you to participate in this review as you contributions will elevate this endeavour to a higher level.
In addition to this, there is an effort to streamline Government Bursary Programmes to ensure a fair spread and to limit unnecessary bureaucracy. The Department of Education plays a significant role in the streamlining process. I want to believe that you can also play a pivotal role in this regard as well.
Programme director, Let me also take this opportunity and express my appreciation to Mr Boshoff and his team from TSB. Since the pronouncement by the President of the Republic, that we must use 67 minutes of our time to do good to the deprived communities on Mandela Day (18 July 2010), TSB Malelane has rallied side by side with the department.
Collectively, we were able to make huge impact at Silindokuhle Special School last year and at Masinakane Special School this year. I am happy that I am able to express my gratitude to you in person today. Please also extend this appreciation to all your staff members especially Mr Vusi Khoza with whom we have been able to work in a professional way.
Mr Boshoff, now that we met, let us agree that next year’s Mandela celebration will be big and that you will personally make sure that it is pitched at a level that be a marvel of the whole country.
Programme director, I want to take this time to pledge my commitment and availability to work with you in an effort to make the lives of our people better. Our view is that if we continue to work together we indeed will achieve more. I embrace this partnership and wish that it can be extended to accelerate all efforts aimed at emancipating our people from the bondages of fear, helplessness and poverty.
Once more let me conclude by wishing you the best of luck in all your endeavours and formally declare the partnership of purpose between the Department of Education and the Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education.
Thank you.
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
