Address by the Mec for Education Siphosezwe Masango, on the Occasion of the Official Handover of Marifaan Primary School in Lydenburg

04 March 2005

Programme Director
Mayor of Thaba Chweu Municipality- Clr. Moshe Mashego
Councillors
Executive Director of Xstrata – Mr E Ratshikhopha
Acting Head of Department – Mr C M Mashaba
Colleagues in the Department
Members of the SGB
Educator Unions
Parents
Educators
Learners
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Dumelang, Sanibonani, Good Morning!

We are on course to educate the nation!

Fresh from the January 8 Statement, the State of the Nation Address and the State of the Province Address, we converge here today to celebrate the opening of a new school which is a cause for excitement and joy to the Skhila Community.

Fifty years ago, the Freedom Charter, was adopted. One of the ten clauses of Charter stated that: “The doors of learning culture shall be opened”.

What we are witnessing here this morning is the translation of this clause into solid progress towards the realization of a better future for all.

Programme Director, today’s handover marks yet another indication of our undying commitment to increasingly open the doors of learning to all.

In celebrating this historic occasion with the community of Skhila, let me start by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to Xstrata South Africa for this generous gift which will go a long way in contributing towards the realization of a South Africa that continues to offer equal opportunities for all. Kuwe Xstrata, sithi “Akwande lapho uthathe khona, ungadinwa nokusasa. Halala!

It is through unselfish and selfless gestures like these that we can remain on course to continuously educate our nation. A better life for all will never be realized as long as our people remain trapped in poverty, illiteracy and joblessness.

Education, therefore, remains the cornerstone for the uncompromising onslaught against these social ills that continue to be devil our communities.

What a way to celebrate the 50years of the Freedom Charter! To the proud community of Skhila, I invite you to join hands with the department and Xstrata South Africa in making this school, a centre of excellence.

SGBs, Educators, Learners and other stakeholders should:

Ensure that our schools are drug-free areas. It is disheartening to read from recent media articles how many learners die as a result of drug abuse.
I will shortly be convening RCL Izindaba in the three Regions where, amongst others, I will raise this issue which is fast becoming a national crisis.
Strive to make our schools gun-free zones. Hijackings, muggings, rape and bullying should not be tolerated in our schools.
Join hands against vandalism. I urge this community to jealously look after this school which should be used by many generations to come.

The department has set itself a challenge to deliver quality public education. This therefore calls for teachers to teach, learners to learn and managers to manage. This is the context in which effective teaching and learning has to take place.

The competitive nature of the job market calls for us to heed the call by the Minister of Education to make sure that we increase the number of learners who take Mathematics, Science and Commerce in Higher Grade. Passing through grades with consummate ease is important.

Equally important in the quality of learners emerging from these grades. They have to be easily absorbable by our economy. Also, they have to be capable creators of their own forms of employment.

However, our school system been producing unemployable learners due to historic irrelevancies. It is for this reason, that at this moment of our history we still have massive skills shortages to service the requisite growing needs of our ever expanding economy.

The system of education we are evolving should be able to drastically cut down the army of out-of-school youth and other members of our community roaming the streets in search of the elusive job opportunities.

It is therefore my sincerest conviction that quality public education will assist in addressing these challenges.

In conclusion, Programme Director, let me congratulate Badelisile Lukhele a learner from Sitintile Secondary school in KaNyamazane, who will be flying to the USA this morning, to represent the country in United Nations sponsored debate on the HIV/AIDS and the humanitarian crisis in South Africa.

Halala Delisile, Uyikakaramba!