Speech to be delivered by the MEC for Education, Mrs. Reginah Mhaule at the occasion of the meeting with the Representatives council of Learners
Programme Director and Head of Department, Mrs. Mahlasedi Mhlabane
Members of Senior Management
Hosting District Director, Mr. Sibusiso Zwane
Members of the District Management Teams (Ehlanzeni and Bohlabela)
Circuit Managers and hosting Circuit Manager Mr. Musa Linkwati
Principals
Representatives from the University of Mpumalanga led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Rick Bernaard
Leadership of the Provincial Youth Desk led by Director Mr. Desmond Moela
Leadership of the National Youth Development Agency led by the Provincial Coordinator, Mr. April Motloung
Leadership of the Congress of South African Students led by the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Bethuel Zunguza
Teacher Liaison Offices
Members of the Representative Council of Learners
Sanibonani
May I bring with me the fraternal greetings for the leadership of the province and also appreciating that you made an effort to attend this meeting. Thank you very much for this gesture.
At the beginning of this year, I made a commitment to convene a meeting with the leadership of learners from each secondary school so that together we could engage on matters that will take the provincial education machinery to greater heights.
Since then this is a matter that has been on our agenda and I am more delighted that finally we are able to do so especially because this month present an appropriate time for such a platform.
In South Africa June is celebrated as Youth Month, with a specific focus on 16 June, which is also known as Youth Day where we are all expected to pay tribute to the school pupils who lost their lives during the 16 June 1976 uprising in Soweto.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Soweto uprisings. And all celebrations are conducted under the theme:
“Youth Moving South Africa Forward”
It is against this background that we decided to call this meeting, to closely look at a number of issues which we think that we ought to share amongst ourselves, especially issues that may have positive impact on the delivery of education in this province.
Let me be upfront and indicate that the province was highly disappointed when the Department could not improve the 2015 grade 12 results by 10%. Instead the province’s grade 12 results declined by 0.4%.
This was seen as retrogression given that since 2009 the province has been constantly improving its outcomes. The sad reality about such outcome is that the dreams and aspirations of many parents were tarnished and hopes of a better tomorrow were diminished.
We are also aware that some of the learners who did not make the mark, did not return to schools beside our call for such to happen and chances are that many of them are now loitering in the streets.
This is still disturbing us because it presents a gloomy future for our province and our country in particular.
It is for this reason that this meeting is convened to appeal to you to help us change the current situation so that an environment for the enhancement of a teaching and learning process can be created in a sustainable manner in all our schools.
I want you (Representative Councils of Learners) to take your rightful roles and responsibilities work with all school role-players to make schooling in this province progressive.
To achieve this, you will be expected to work around the clock to:
- Advance the interest and aspirations of learners,
- Promote of good relations between leaners, teachers and the parents,
- Provide leadership and initiative at all times;
- Promote and assist in instilling school discipline;
- Uphold school pride and traditions; contribute to a positive school spirit,
- Assist in maintaining all school facilities, avoid vandalism of school property,
We wish that you must make every effort to render these functions, protect your schools and education by everything that you have:
The plan of the department for 2016/16 financial year is to:
- Improvement of the Grade 12 results by 10% from 78.6% by thoroughly implementing the learner performance improvement plan.
- Increase the number of maths and science passes and to resource the Maths, Science and Technology Academy.
- Increase the number of learners that will obtain bachelor passes.
- Training of all teachers on content knowledge for them to be confident in the classroom.
- Monitor the curriculum coverage and management of schools.
- Track learners and offering support programmes to decrease the drop-out rate.
- Strengthen the capacity of school management teams and school governance teams in order for them to be functional.
- Capacitate School Safety Committees and to provide schools with the necessary safety equipment in order to ensure a safe and conducive environment for teaching and learning.
- Take advantage of the latest technology in order to improve and enhance teaching and learning in the classroom.
- Offer bursaries to deserving learners in line with the Provincial Human Resource Development Strategy imperatives.
- In partnership with other stakeholders ensure the development and production of artisans.
- Formation of strategic partnerships in order to improve service delivery.
- Support the University of Mpumalanga in order to increase the programmes offered and also getting learners to know about the university.
To achieve this you must help us be encouraging all learners to stay focused on their studies and to take advantage of the Intervention Programmes for 2016.
The intervention programmes include but not limited to:
- The winter schools scheduled to take place from 27 June to 8 July 2016, in 125 centres.
- Radio Lessons taking place on SABC Radio Stations , Ikwekwezi and Ligwalagwala FM and 11 Community Radio Stations.
- The Dial a Tutor programme from 18h00 to 20h00 from Monday to Thursday each week and any other programme that is implemented by your schools.
I wish to encourage you to convey this information to take full advantage of these opportunities.
Intake and improvement of pass rate in Mathematics, physical Science and technology
When we grew up, we were told that Maths and Science are difficult subjects. We were also told that girls must not do these subjects because at no stage will they use they benefit from taking these subjects.
This was deliberately done so that the majority of our people will remain inferior and subservient to the authority of that time.
The current government is working hard to change that thinking and is introducing a number of programmes to demystify the myth that Mathematics and Physical Science are subjects only meant for geniuses.
Let us also encourage more learners to take Mathematics by encouraging the formation of communities of learning such as Study groups and Social Network groups and establishing support for Math.Science and Technology Clubs for learners.
I request that you work with us to ensure a situation where all learners of Mpumalanga Province will voluntary take Maths and Physical Science because they understand the value and significance of these subjects.
Mpumalanga Province must be a province where every learner takes mathematics and physical science.
We must not accept when we are being told that for us to make it in grade 12 we must choose easy subjects because that will only robbing us of our future prospects.
Denouncing social ills in our schools
I also want to indicate to you that we are deeply concerned by the rate of violence, drug tracking, vandalism, bullying, and the numbers of teenage pregnancies in our schools.
This happens besides the efforts that we are putting in place working in unison with the Department of Community Safety, Security, and Liaison, the South African Police Services, the Department of Social Development and the Department of Health.
I request that you assist to free schools from these social ills and you must make it your responsibility to report incidents of crime that is taking place in your schools.
It is very sad to see learner turning into “zombies” because of the intake of drugs in particular iNyaupe of late. This can be stopped if you can work with the law enforcement agencies.
Girls
I also request that girls must at all times be granted the respect they deserve. Girls must at no time be treated as objects to be bullied around or made sex slaves by follow buy learners.
You girls need to form your own empowerment social clubs , study clubs and encourage yourselves throughout your schooling.
You must learn to say no on anything that has a potential to affect you education, health and future. You need to know yourselves and to take pride of your bodies. Nobody must take advantage of you.
Identify role models and In Mpumalanga we are privileged to have a long list of those, Former Miss World, Rollene Strauss, Miss South Africa,Ntandoyenkosi Kunene, Rebecca Malupe and the reigning queen of Mpumalanga ,Miss Elane Mkhabela who is with us today.
Stop gossiping and read books at all times for your own emancipation.
The department is collaborating with Imbumba Foundation to promote a programme called Caring 4 Girls. This programme intends to emancipate a girl child and to promote that which has interest of our girl child at heart.
As leaders, you need to remind your peers that they are the story tellers of their own lives, and that it is up to them to create their own legends.
There are many negative things that will compete for their attention and time, but their positive attitude towards your studies is the only equalizer to keep you on track and focus.
Identity documents
We are also concern that there are 1400 learners that registered for the 2016 Grade 12 examinations who do not have valid identity documents. The unfortunate part is that it may be difficult to progress to any institution of higher learners without a valid Identity document.
To address this, Department together with the Department of Home Affairs will embark on a project called “Operation Zazise” (Identify yourself) to assist undocumented learners in registering for identity documents on 17 June 2016.
You are encouraged learners in your schools to assist the learners to apply and obtain their identity documents at the nearest Department of Home Affairs (DHA) offices.
Principals are requested to assist learners with transport arrangements where necessary. It is furthermore proposed that the registry educators for Grade 12 should accompany undocumented learners to Department of Home Affairs.
The learners should be in possession of the following documents when applying for their identity documents:
- Birth certificate;
- Certified copy of one of the parents /legal guardian identity document;
- Death certificate or certified copy thereof if parents are deceased;
- Proof of residence (where available) or provide residential address;
- No payment is required.
The cooperation and assistance of all role players will be appreciated in making “Operation Zazise” a success.
Please assist in this regards
Taking advantage of bursary opportunities and LO.
Every financial year, as the Department we set aside a lucrative amount for our learners to further their studies in a form of bursaries.
This year we have set aside R200 million towards bursaries.
It is not only the Mpumalanga Government bursary that affords learners to further their studies, but also private companies and Non-governmental institutions.
We have however, noted with great sadness that most learners are unable to grab these opportunities, because of their subject combinations.
This therefore leads to a lot of disappointed youths who end up turning into crime and other negative avenues to sustain their lives.
It should therefore be part of your mandate that you ensure that leaners are taking the correct subjects, encourage them to seek advice from Life Orientation educators, so that they may be guided properly.
These educators are there so that may play a significant role in shaping your futures; inspire learners to take advantage of their expertise.
It may however also be an issue of leaners not being able to access valuable information on time; I therefore urge that you take it upon yourselves to also enquire from the Department, by calling the departmental toll free line during office hours, which is 0800 203 116, to find out if bursary forms are already out.
Admission for 2017
We are also almost halfway through the year 2016, this therefore entails that parents need to start registering children for schooling in 2017.
All public schools have already been directed to start a process of admitting leaners from 16 May 2016 until 12 August 2016.
I urge that you ensure that the school admission policies take into account the constitution mandates and should be in line with the dictates of the South African School Act no 84 of 1996 and the amended AET Act No 52 of 2000.
No learner must be refused admission on grounds that his/her parents are unable to pay school fees, do not subscribe to the mission statement of the school, on bases of religious preferences or their race.
Let us work together and have a smooth leaner admission process.
Conclusion
As I conclude, I am appealing to you to take your studies seriously so that your ambitions will be realised.
I want you to think about your studies just as entrepreneurs think about business. Think about the extra hours of work that you need to put into your studies for you to succeed.
Think about the challenges that you need to master in the different learning areas and talk to your teachers.
Think about the relationship with your teachers and books and the need to maintain it in a healthy and sustainable way.
When you have mastered this, then you will be able to lead others, in bettering their own lives.
It has been proven by Miss Africa Tourism Universe, Miss Nompumelelo Luphoko, by Musa and Karabo who both won Idols, by Clash of the Choirs team led by JR, by Ntandoyenkosi Kunene, the current Miss South Africa that even we in Mpumalanga are capable of greater things.
We just need to be positive and work hard and pray.
I wish to thank everyone who graced this occasion in particular our stakeholders, the University of Mpumalanga, NYDA, Premier Youth Desk, Ms Mpumalanga and COSAS : “ Each one teach One”. Siyabonga kakhulu.
As I step down, I wish to hear from you on what is it that you will do to ensure that we achieve all that I have requested you to do.
Ngiyabonga.
