Speech delivered by the Mpumalanga MEC for Education, Mrs Reginah Mhaule on meeting with Principals and Circuit Managers
Head of Department, Mrs Mahlasedi Mhlabane
District Directors
Senior Managers
District Management Teams
Circuit Managers and
Principals
Representatives from the media
Sanibonani,
Complements of the new season.
I am grateful that you made time to be with us today in an effort to take the education of our children forward.
At the release of the 2013 Grade 12 results I mentioned that I have requested the Head of Department to convene an urgent meeting with all secondary school principals to congratulate them on this outcome, discuss improvement support programmes for the 2014 school year and the kind of support that must be given to those that should write the supplementary examinations as well as those that must be given space to repeat the grade.
We share a view that this is imperative for it will in turn ensure that there are no children who will roam around the streets simply because we did not go an extra mile to accommodate them.
Before I talk about matters of support to learners it is important that I express my appreciation to you for the performance of the class of 2013. We know that you had to fold your sleeves for us to attain these results that are a pride of the province and the country today.
What is encouraging is that the results are showing positive signs of qualitative improvement as well.
We are mindful that we have not reached our target of 10% improvement since we fell short of 2.4%.
This must therefore propel us to do more this time around so that at the end of the year the province could be at 90%. This is possible only if we commit the desired passion and dedication.
It is for that reason that we declared all schools that performed below 60% dysfunctional so that we could make an effort to ensure that all learners who enter our system make the grade and will be expected to participate in the programme that will be designed by the department. It is going to be compulsory for these schools to write common assessment tasks, attend winter and spring classes and quarterly review sessions.
Principals are thus implored to motivate their teachers and learners towards the improvement plans bringing on board the parent community as well as civil society to the fore to take their schools performance forward.
I also share a view that if we could start as early as yesterday to implement improvement programmes, the desired results may be obtainable.
Supplementary Examinations
For this reason I request that from here you will need to work around the clock to ensure that all learners who qualify to write the supplementary examination register, write and pass. In this way the province may improve at least to 80% but of significant is that the learners would have made the grade.
Someone may say that the registration date has lapsed. We have taken a decision that the date be extended to Friday, 25 January 2014 so that a fair chance is given to all deserving learners.
I request that it be the responsibility of every principal to trace all learners who qualify to write and to ensure that they write at the end of the day.
This time we will request a report from each principal on how the process has unfolded.
Learners who failed
Equally those who failed for the first time, fortunately this time around they are not many, must be accorded space in all our schools to repeat the grade failing which they will in turn be the burden of the state.
I request that this is done for it is in the best interest of our learners.
You also need to advise the department on the best and practical option that we could put in place to assist those who fail for the second time since they can no longer be admitted to our schools.
If these too are supported the troubles that are experienced in our townships may be a thing that of the past.
There is a saying that "A roaring lion kills no game," this African proverb admonishes that we cannot achieve or gain anything by mere sitting around and just talking about it.
It is also your competence as principals to motivate your staff, learners and parents and ensure they are involved in school matters. The plan should be for effective teaching and learning to take place at the school in line with the call of President Zuma for teachers to teach at least 7 hours a day.
Let us fold our sleeves and work towards the betterment of our learners and communities. For us there could be no other way to achieve this than to stick to our constitutional mandate to teach while we ensure that our learners learn. There is no magic stick for good achievement, it all takes an effort, hard work and dedication.
I thus want to implore districts, circuits and schools to work together in an effort to make schools reach their maximum potential as we cannot afford to be held back.
I request that you work cooperatively with school governing bodies, stakeholders including religious formations such as the Moral Regeneration Movement in order to instil values that will propel our learners to focus on their studies.
Learner numbers
What concerns us is the allegation that some schools may be applying gate keeping. If this is done, it is wrong and please know that it is not done in the name of the department.
This must be looked at and be avoided at all cost. You find a school with more learners in grades 10 and 11 but these numbers drastically dwindles at Grade 12. There must be a justification of low registration in grade 12. Please ensure that you are not found doing this for it robs our children of what is constitutionally guarantied for them.
Improving intake of Maths and Science
I had a discussion with the Honourable Premier Mr DD Mabuza and he was raising a concern that as much as we are happy with the results we should be more worried that our learners participate and pass these key subjects such as Mathematics and Physical Science. In fact there is a target that we need to work towards so that we are able to ensure that at least 30 000 learners graduate in Maths and Science streams this year. The question is, what is our throughput in this regard?
Please persuade learners to enrol in their numbers in these subjects while at the same time they are motivated to practice Mathematics daily because it is through daily practice that you succeed.
As a department we will intensify programmes which we initiated to benefit our learners such as the Radio lessons, Dial-a-tutor or tweet-a-tutor to enhance their competency in the subjects content and to complement the good work of teachers.
We need to be advised on appropriate timing of the Radio Lessons so that we could engage the Radio Stations as well.
Learners to register to vote
To grow and develop our democracy of which we are celebrating a 20 years in 2014, learners who are 18 years and older should be advised to make an effort to participate in the affairs of the country by registering to vote in the forthcoming elections and those who are 16 years of age should obtain their ID books to be able to be registered accordingly at school and avoid mishaps after grade 12 when they continue with the studies.
At the occasion of the launch of the African National Congress Manifesto President Zuma made it clear that the interventions put in place in 2009 to improve the delivery of education are beginning to yield positive results.
He congratulated the class of 2013 by saying:
“The gradual improvement in matric results each year since 2009 is a cause for national pride and celebration. The achievement of our 2013 matric class has made our nation stand proud. All our learners carry the hopes for our better and bright future.
We thank parents, guardians, teachers and communities for working to make education a societal issue and ensuring progress and success.”
This is a message from the President and we have gathered here to ensure that we continue to receive such resounding messages from all fronts.
I therefore appeal to you to make sure that we remain on the right track, take charge of your situation and of significant stay accountable.
I wish you the best in 2014 and let us work towards improving the results in all grades by 10%. Lets work together to take South Africa Forward.
Ngiyabonga.
