Programme Director,
The MEC for Education in the Eastern Cape, Mr Fundile Gade,
The Executive Mayor of Kouga Local Municipality, Mr Hattingh Bornman,
Dr Motlalepule Nathane-Taulela and fellow trustees of the Kouga Windfarm Community Development Trust,
Mr Prince Matonsi and the leadership of the Trust,
Representatives of the Eastern Cape Department of Education,
The school leadership, educators and staff of Humansdorp Primary School,
Parents and members of the Humansdorp community,
Molweni nonke.
This is a proud day for Humansdorp, for the Eastern Cape and for everyone who has contributed to bringing this school to life.
The theme chosen for today, “From Vision to Action, and from Action to Impact,” captures the journey that has brought us here. A vision was conceived, resources were mobilised, partnerships were established, and a school was built. Today, we see the results of that collective effort. We gather to dedicate this school,in our small way, to the people of Humansdorp.
163 years ago, the US President Abraham Lincoln, returned to Gettysburg to consecrate that hallowed groung, remember this was the decisive battlefield that ended the US civil war. There he delivered what became known as the Gettysburg address. In paragraph 3 of that speech, President Lincoln comes to the realization that he has no power to consecrate nor hallow that ground, because the brave men who fought there, consecrated that ground far more than his words ever could.
I have come to the same realization that I too am powerless to consecrate this school. I have no such a power.
This school will be consecrated when a Grade R learner walks through those gates for the first time and they learn to solve difficult maths problem, they discover a talent in the science laboratory, or find the confidence to pursue a dream that once seemed out of reach for them and their families.
That is when the real impact of this investment will be measured. That is when this school will be conscrated!
Colleagues,
I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to the Kouga Windfarm Community Development Trust for making this project possible.
The public private partnership philosophy behind this school demonstrates what can be achieved when institutions take a shared responsibility for the future of their communities.
The Kouga Windfarm Community Development Trust was established by the shareholders of Kouga Wind Farm.
Over the past four years, the Trust has invested more than R165 million in education and skills development, including the construction of this school.
That is a significant contribution. It represents a sustained commitment to improving access to education and strengthening educational opportunities in the Humansdorp Circuit.
I want to commend the trustees and management of the Trust for recognising the long-term value of investing in children. I also thank the Eastern Cape Department of Education and Kouga Local Municipality for not being an obstacle to this project but rather being enablers of development for this community.
Partnerships of this kind require planning, trust, resources and a willingness to work together towards a common goal. Today, the community of Humansdoorp can see what that cooperation between between, government and civil society has produced.
I hope this school will encourage more government institutions, businesses organizations and development partners to consider how their resources and cooperation can contribute to better educational outcomes.
South Africa needs this kind of cooperation. Government has the primary responsibility to ensure that every child has access to quality basic education, and we take that responsibility seriously. At the same time, the scale of our infrastructure needs demands that we work with partners who share our commitment to the future of our country.
We need more classrooms, appropriate sanitation, libraries, laboratories and safe spaces in which children can learn. We need infrastructure that responds to the needs of growing communities and gives educators the conditions they require to teach effectively.
In a constrained fiscal environment, when government simply doesn’t have enough money to cater to the growing needs of communities, we must crowd in private sector resources to improve educational outcomes in the country.
Humansdorp Primary School is a practical example of how that can be realised.
When I assumed office as Minister of Basic Education in 2024, one of the central challenges confronting our education system was the state of foundational learning.
We have long known that too many children reach the later grades without being able to read for meaning or confidently apply basic mathematical concepts. This places them at a disadvantage as they progress through school, particularly when they encounter more demanding subjects and begin making decisions about their future studies and careers.
That is why we have undertaken a strategic reorientation of our education system under the banner of Strong Foundations, Strong Futures.
Our focus is on ensuring that children acquire the essential knowledge and skills they need, beginning in the earliest years of their education.
Reading with understanding opens the door to every other subject. Numeracy gives children the tools to reason, solve problems and engage with the world around them. These skills provide the basis for success in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and countless other fields.
This work requires quality teaching, appropriate learning materials, effective school leadership and sustained support for learners. It also requires schools that are properly equipped to fulfil their educational purpose.
The facilities we have seen here today, including the classrooms, library, science laboratory, computer laboratory and coding and robotics laboratory, provide an exciting platform for teaching and learning. The provision of a Grade R classroom also creates an opportunity to strengthen the transition into formal schooling and establish good learning habits from an early age.
These facilities offer enormous potential. They can expose children to new ideas, encourage curiosity and help them develop the knowledge and skills required to participate in a changing economy.
The beautiful buildings and equipment must now be matched by good teaching, strong school management and a school culture that values learning.
The task before all of us in this room is to turn this beautiful facility into a fountain of hope. A fountain from which thousands in this community will come and break generational curses of poverty and joblessness.
To the parents and residents of Humansdorp, give this school your children and it will return them to you as Doctors, Engineers, Data Scientists, Accountants, Judges, Sports stars, musicians, librarians, teachers, Entrepreneurs and even as Ministers.
I encourage you to protect this school and to remain actively involved in its success.
Education works best when the relationship between the school, the parents and the wider community is strong. Parents should know what their children are learning, engage with their teachers and support the routines that help children succeed.
Communities also have a role to play in ensuring that schools remain safe places where learners and educators can focus on their work.
We must protect our schools from vandalism, violence and any conduct that undermines teaching and learning. Public infrastructure is built with public and community resources, and its value must be preserved through responsible use and proper care.
To the school governing body and the school leadership, I will ask that they provide the good governance and direction necessary to ensure that this investment continues to serve learners well. Good governance, sound financial management and accountability will be essential to the sustainability of this school.
To our teachers and learners
To the teachers of Humansdorp Primary School, I want to acknowledge the responsibility you carry.
You will determine, through your daily work, what this investment ultimately means for the children entrusted to you. The patience with which you teach, the standards you uphold, the encouragement you offer and the expectations you set can shape a child's entire outlook on life.
We know that teaching is demanding work. We also know that strong educators can change the direction of a child's life. This school gives you an opportunity to do that work in an environment designed to support teaching and learning.
Please continue to challenge your learners, nurture their curiosity and help them recognise their own abilities.
And to our learners, this day is especially for you.
You may look around and see new classrooms, a library, laboratories and spaces that offer exciting possibilities. I want you to understand what these facilities mean for your future.
They mean that you have a place to learn, to ask questions, to make mistakes and try again. They mean that you can explore your interests, discover your talents and begin preparing for the opportunities that lie ahead.
Make the most of them.
Read as widely as you can. Take your mathematics seriously. Be curious about science and technology. Respect your teachers and fellow learners. Ask for help when you need it, and never allow a difficult lesson or a disappointing result to convince you that you cannot improve.
You do not need to have your entire future figured out today. What matters is that you develop the knowledge, discipline and confidence to keep moving forward.
Some of you may become teachers, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists or public servants. Some may develop technologies that we have not yet imagined. Others may build businesses, create jobs or find new ways to solve the challenges facing our communities.
Whatever path you choose, the education you receive here should prepare you to participate meaningfully in society and contribute to the development of South Africa.
Your circumstances today do not have to set the limits of your ambitions tomorrow.
From this school to the future of South Africa
As we mark this occasion, we should remember that the benefits of education extend far beyond the school gates.
A well-educated child has greater opportunities to participate in the economy, contribute to their community and make informed decisions throughout their life. Strong schools help build stronger communities, and stronger communities are essential to a more prosperous country.
For a country such as ours, where inequality continues to shape the opportunities available to many children, investments in education are fundamental to building a fairer society.
Every child deserves access to a school that supports their learning. Every community deserves an education system that takes its needs seriously. Every learner should be able to look towards the future with a sense of possibility.
That is the ambition behind our work to strengthen the foundations of learning. It is also the responsibility that accompanies the handover of this school.
Today, we celebrate the vision that made this project possible and the action that brought it into being. From tomorrow, the measure of our success will be the quality of education delivered here, the progress made by learners and the opportunities they are able to pursue.
To the Kouga Windfarm Community Development Trust, the Eastern Cape Department of Education, Kouga Local Municipality and every person who contributed to this project, thank you for helping turn a shared vision into something tangible and lasting.
May this partnership continue to yield benefits for the people of Humansdorp and inspire further investment in the education of our children.
To the leadership, educators, parents and learners of Humansdorp Primary School, I wish you every success as you begin this new chapter.
May this school be a place where children learn to read with confidence, think critically, work together and approach the world with curiosity and courage.
May its classrooms be filled with purposeful teaching, its library with eager readers, its laboratories with discovery, and its corridors with the energy and promise of young people preparing for their future.
And may the impact of this investment be felt for many decades, through the lives of the children who learn here and the communities they will one day lead.
Thank you.
Enkosi kakhulu.
Ndiya kubulela.
