learners, educators, parents and officials
13 December 2007
The school year has finally come to a halt for our teachers and learners.
The majority of our officials will also take a breather from 14 December before
the release of the 2007 matric and adult basic education and training on 28
December 2007.
It has been a formidable year, full of challenges but also highlights and
achievements.
The prolonged industrial action has without a doubt impacted heavily on
education which is the life-blood of society. However, the response to the
recovery plan to make up for the teaching time lost during the three weeks long
strike, was encouraging and we would like to thank our teachers, learners,
parents and officials for their support during the winter and spring schools,
Saturday classes and tuition after school hours.
Thank you for preparing our children and learners â not only academically
but also for life. It is that extra mile that makes the difference.
Our partnership with our teacher unions has been beneficial to both parties.
We signed a multi-term agreement â the first of its kind in the country, which
would certainly make a difference to the lives of our teachers. The
teacher/learner ratio of 31:18 for the 2008/09 financial year will also be the
lowest since democracy with the appointment of a record number of teachers next
year. Another first will be the appointment of 600 teaching assistants and
close to 3000 security guards.
The provision of infrastructure has been a priority in the Department.
Besides the opening of three brand new schools we have also made great strides
with the provision of other infrastructure, in particular our sanitation
programme where we have provided a record number of toilets â bringing delivery
to more than 12 000 since April 2004.
Our partnership with friends in the industry has had great advantages for
our Further Education and Training Colleges. The establishment of a Tooling
Centre of Excellence â a joint venture of the Tooling Association of South
Africa and Department of Fionance and Economic Development â has already
resulted in the first level graduation of our first tooling students.
Skills development and literacy go hand in hand. Still imprinted in many
people's minds is the mass graduation where 8 000 adult learners in our
Masifundisane community literacy programme received their certificates in basic
literacy â the oldest recipient 101 years old.
The year 2007 also saw the launch of the Department's reading policy.
Reading forms the basis of any learning â even a rocket scientist must be able
to read before he or she can achieve. As parents we are our children's first
teachers and when we are involved in their education we are helping them to do
their very best at school. My plea to parents is to invest in books at home.
Instead of buying expensive toys a book or two for Christmas will last longer
and serve a better purpose. Encourage your children to read during the holidays
â they will certainly reap the benefits.
I also appeal to parents to have their children at school on Day One when
the first bell rings. Research has proven that children who attend school
regularly perform better. Next year there will be 201 school days. For the sake
of our children's future they must be at school for 201 days in 2008.
We wish all our learners, parents, teachers and officials a blessed and
happy festive season and a fulfilling 2008.
Issued by: Department of Education, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
13 December 2007
