Setting the scene by Honourable Premier Ace Magashule at the Free State 2016 Education Indaba, Emoya Estate, Mangaung
Minister of Education Hounarable Angie Motshekga,
Members of the Executive Council,
Members of the Provincial Legislature,
Members of the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC,
Leaders of our Alliance Partners: SACP; COSATU and SANCO,
The Leadership of SADTU,
Representatives of various institutions of learning,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Dumelang, Goeie More, Molweni, Sanibonani, Good Morning.
Programme Director, we host this Education Indaba as per the commitment we made to the people of the Free State during the 2016 State of the Province Address on 16th of February. We made a commitment to our people that this Indaba must seek to review the entire education dispensation, from Grade R to Grade 12, in the Free State Province.
I therefore urge this Indaba to fulfil that commitment and ensure that when we emerge from this Indaba, we have a clear plan to change our education landscape to be better than it is today.
Despite the budget constraints, and many other challenges we faced, we have managed to achieve a lot in the education arena since 2009. This Indaba is one of the mechanisms we will employ in order to work together with all stakeholders to ensure that we achieve even more in the education fraternity.
Freedom Charter
The real Congress of the People stated in 1955 in the Freedom Charter that; “The Doors of Learning and Culture Shall be Opened”;
The Charter went further to make the following core principles of the South African struggle for freedom; that the aim of education shall be to teach the youth to love their people and their culture, to honour human brotherhood, liberty and peace; that education shall be free, compulsory, universal and equal for all children; Higher education and technical training shall be opened to all by means of state allowances and scholarships awarded on the basis of merit; that adult illiteracy shall be ended by a mass state education plan; and that teachers shall have all the rights of other citizens.
We remain committed to these strategic injunctions of the Freedom Charter and our government shall continue to work hard to achieve these objectives.
Resolutions of the 53rd National Conference of the ANC
In furtherance of the commitments contained in the Freedom Charter, the ANC in 2012 made the following resolutions on Basic Education, in particular;
- There should be stability in schools and basic education should be protected from disruptions;
- Post provisioning norms in addition to numbers must be informed by socioeconomic context and curricula needs;
- Procurement should ensure efficient and effective supply of teaching material to all schools;
- There should be comprehensive and structured monitoring and evaluation of performance;
- The funding model for schools and the Quintile Model should be reviewed to deal with material inconsistencies;
- The appointment of suitably qualified principals to be implemented, with focus on schools in need;
- To improve the educational outcome and output;
- To prepare for the introduction of indigenous languages in 2014;
- To phase out multi-grade schools by 2020; and
- To address dropout rates in schools and ensure retention of learners;
National Development Plan: Vision 2030
The over-arching objective of the National Development Plan (NDP) is to eradicate poverty, increase employment and reduce inequality by 2030.
Programme Director, Chapter 9 of the National Development Plan talks about improving education, training and innovation. The NDP states that education, training and innovation enables society to solve problems, develop competitively, to eliminate poverty and to reduce inequality.
The Vision of the NDP on Education
All children to access and benefit from high quality education, especially in literacy, mathematics and science;
Key pillars of attaining this Vision by 2030 are:
- Comprehensive access to quality teaching at ECD level;
- Schools to be well-run by skilled and dedicated principals, supported by high quality teachers, to foster a vibrant but disciplined environment that is conducive to learning;
- Highly motivated learners;
- Involved and active parents;
- Unions ensuring that proper procedures are followed; and
- Schools and learners to be supported by knowledgeable district officials.
2014 Election Manifesto of the ANC
The 2014 ANC’s Election Manifesto identified education as one of the key priorities to move South Africa forward.
A summary of key commitments of the ANC on Education and Training;
- To improve and expand education and training by making Grade R compulsory; and
- To eradicate adult illiteracy.
Conclusion
From 1955 until today, our position on education has not changed. The ANC still believes that education is a potent weapon to transform society and create a conducive environment for a better life for all.
This Indaba has a responsibility to assess our progress in the implementation of the vision of the ANC on education and training, and provide clear directives on how government can improve the good work it is doing in the education arena.
Education is crucial in our agenda to ensure radical socio-economic transformation. Without education, freedom and democracy are almost worthless. Through education, we will continue to transform our society and achieve a National Democratic Society.
Re a Hlasela! We have delivered!
Thank you!
