Vaal Matric Awards ceremony, Vereeniging
13 February 2009
Programme Director Councillor Tsokolibane
Executive Mayor of the Sedibeng District Councillor Mofokeng
Executive Mayor of Emfuleni Municipality Councillor Mshudulu
Speaker of the Sedibeng District Municipality Councillor Mokgotsi
Members of the District and Local Municipalities
Principals of Schools, Teachers and Learners
Distinguished guests
Thank you for inviting me to share with you in the celebration of the first
ever Vaal Matric Awards.
Itâs important that we recognise excellence. Many of us fail to encourage
schools and learners to strive to be best.
The subject of education requires intensive reflection by all learners,
teachers and community members. It is vital that we challenge the notion that
our schools are doomed to under perform.
The imprint of our history has left an unfortunate set of beliefs in our
society. One of them is that we donât have the ability to succeed and be the
best. Another is that key to excellence lies outside our communities, outside
our schools. We have a solemn duty to destroy these myths. Celebrations such as
this one help us to challenge negative myths.
These awards will encourage our communities to aim higher. In 2008 learners
wrote the first National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. The new
curriculum is important for two reasons. We no longer have the discrimination
of higher and standard grade.
Before 2008 provinces wrote different exams. Now all learners write national
exams. A new curriculum was developed for a number of reasons:
* To streamline subject offerings and remove outdated subjects while
introducing new ones.
* To add skills analysis and critical problem solving as the core objectives of
learning.
* To keep up with curriculum changes worldwide.
* To integrate new values and approaches into the curriculum.
International reviews, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) review of our education system, have noted the progress
that we have made with curriculum transformation.
The OECD review highlighted policies and practices that we need to improve
to ensure that we achieve the outcomes that we have set for ourselves. One of
our most critical challenges is the expansion of access to quality education
for all children of our country.
Our resolve is to ensure that every child in our schools has meaningful
opportunities for learning. Our aim is to improve the reading, writing and
numeracy skills of children in our education system. This must begin at primary
school and be a focus at all levels of the system.
Earlier this year we launched a quality learning and teaching campaign and
publicised a âCode for Quality Educationâ. I call all stakeholders and partners
to take part in the campaign âin school, on time, teachingâ.
This campaign requires all of us, that is, governmental officials, teachers,
learners, parents and communities to take responsibility for improving the
quality of education. We need to mobilise communities to monitor and support
schools, teachers and learners to contribute to the improvement of the quality
of education for all children, especially the poor. Iâm pleased that the
Sedibeng District Municipality has launched the Vaal Matric Awards. The close
proximity of municipalities with communities make you the single most important
agents for improving the quality of education in schools in our regions.
I challenge our councillors, as representatives of the people, to mobilise
communities to support the development of our schools. We need to revalitise
our schools and ensure that young people in our communities attend school.
Together we can improve the education services the state provides for our
children. Let us re-energise the system and improve our accountability.
Similarly, the interface between the district and local municipalities, the
education district offices and schools is critical in the development of
schools. In fact, the education district offices are central in the support of
schools. They are the cog of the education system. They provide the essential
support to schools. Itâs critical that the officials of the Sedibeng West
District ensure that you visit and support schools regularly.
The Vaal Matric Awards are an important new step in building success in
education. I would like to make a suggestion. We should set ourselves
performance targets against which to measure progress in achievement.
Therefore, as we recognise the achievements of the class of 2008, we need to
ensure that the class of 2009 does better. The benchmark is 60.11% for Sedibeng
West District.
To this end, we will also need to ensure that we analyse the performance of
learners in each of the subjects. I challenge you to improve the number of over
50% learners. This can be done and it will be done. Aristotle once said:
âYoung people are in a condition like permanent intoxication, because youth is
sweet and they are growing.â
It doesnât sound so elegant in translation, but Iâm told that it sounds
stunning in Greek. You get the drift. I am not saying that young people are
drunk. I congratulate you on the Vaal Matric Awards. Congratulations to the
recipients of the awards. Use your achievement to better the future of our
country and yourselves.
I Thank you
Issued by: Department of Education
13 February 2009
Source: Department of Education (http://www.doe.gov.za)
