Back to School 2020 – MEC Mbali Hlophe to visit Kgoro ya Thuto Secondary in Ratanda, Heidelberg
The 2020 academic school year will commence with the reopening of schools on 15 January 2020 with MEC Mbali Hlophe paying a special visit to Kgoro Ya Thuto Secondary in Ratanda, Heidelberg as part of the Government’s Back to School initiative.
During the visit, MEC Hlophe will donate sporting kits and books to the school, including planting of trees. Other schools include Ratanda Bertha Gxowa Primary, Lethabo Siyanqoba Primary and Thandisizwe ECD.
"Academic learning and sports education complement each other. We are excited as the Department as we will be reviving the school sport league this year. We need to consciously invest in school sport to increase the pipeline of our sporting codes," MEC Hlophe said.
Gauteng Government has identified education and skills development among its apex priorities, and the support of schools and learners, particularly those in rural and underprivileged communities, is of utmost importance.
The Department will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gauteng Department of Education. The MEC further calls upon federations themselves to have an active role in what happens at school level.
“Sports education not only teaches the students to maintain the physical stamina, but also the habit of obedience, discipline, the determination to win, willpower. Combining sports in education can help students to develop a self-motivating spirit to do things on their own and having ownership of these”, said MEC Hlophe.
The oversight visits to school is meant to ensure that there is effective teaching and learning in all schools and further that the necessary discipline is observed, and the appropriate resources are in place. The visits will seek to monitor that all teachers and l earners are in class, on time and teaching, and learning is taking place.
MEC Mbali Hlophe believes that schools hold the key to successful transformation in South African sport.
Members of the media are invited to cover the events. Details are as follows:
Date: 15 January 2020
Time: 07h00 – 09h00
Venue: Kgoro Ya Thuto Secondary School, Heidelberg, Heidelberg – GP
For media enquiries please contact:
Thabo Sephuma: MEC’s spokesperson
E-mail: Thabo.Sephuma@gauteng.gov.za
Cell: 066 299 1139
Tel: 011 355 2789
Nomazwe Ntlokwana: Departmental spokesperson
E-mail: nomazwe.ntlokwana@gauteng.gov,za
Cell: 083 507 8068
Tel: 011 355 2578
