KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize has congratulated the Department of Education in the province for this year's "impressive" matrices results."I am particularly impressed to see that education has become a societal matter where everyone in the community becomes part of the drive to ensure the provision of quality education," said Dr Mkhize.
He also said it is important to ensure that the process of teaching and learning does not get disrupted by issues that affect the community like crime and violence.
Dr Mkhize said the legislature has also prioritised education and all members will be visiting schools to ensure classes start on the first day of the academic year because "any time wasted not teaching is time lost for the rest of the year".
Dr Mkhize also emphasised the importance of enthusiastic teachers who are excited about teaching children.
He also encouraged teachers to always act in a way that will have a positive impact on the learners "from how you dress to your attitude toward learning."
Dr Mkhize also thanked trade unions for their role in the outcomes for the learners and performance by teachers.
"It is impossible to not have any conflict when you are working together, but we need to ensure that conflict does not detract us from our primary objective of ensuring the provision of quality education for he African child," said Dr Mkhize.
He said the involvement of parents in the education of the children is critical as no child can feel supported if the parent is not supportive of their education.
"Education from us is not an option but is a must have because for those who will participate in areas which will help build this county's economy they will need to be skilled and highly skilled in technical areas which will take this country to he future.
"So there is no school or child who should be happy with a pass rate below 50%. We therefore need to call on the skills and experience of others, even those who have retired, to improve ourselves," said Dr Mkhize.
