PREMIER MABUZA REQUESTS PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL NOT TO GO ON PENSION
18 January 2015
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza was fascinated on Friday [16 January 2015] when he visited a “well-managed” Hlanguphala Primary School, and consequently asked its principal who has reached pension age to serve another six more years.
Impressed about a well-looked after facility and the discipline both the learners and the school governing body has, Premier Mabuza attributed the good controls to good management and leadership by the school’s principal, a 59-year old Ms Elizabeth Phaladi.
During his interaction with the school principal, it transpired that there was good relationship between the school and the parents. The principal was also “creative enough” in running the school. The school was clean and even had closed-circuit-tv [CCTV] system for ensuring security and monitoring activities around the school.
Mabuza was also stunned by the learners that they arrived on time and the learners were eloquent in communicating in English as compared to the other high schools he had visited during the week.
“I am happy the way you are running the school, I see a good culture, and indeed there is life here. We are requesting you not to go on pension just yet, we need your services until you are 65 years old.
“You are serving the nation in a big way, this is a noble course and as this government we will forever need such leaders in our schools who passionately nurture the future of our children,” said Mabuza to the principal.
He said some teachers were not passionate about teaching but did it to secure employment and could not inspire the learners to look forward to mature and have dreams.
“Some teachers come to schools wearing the running shoes and caps, and achieve naught come the results. Such teachers also contribute in destroying our children. You can see in this school here that everyone is motivated to teach and the learners are eager to learn,” said Mabuza.
Hlanguphala Primary School is a no-fee school established in 1928 in Phola Township near Ogies in Emalahleni Municipality for the children whose parents worked in the nearby mines. It is a feeder-school to Mabande Comprehensive School, which is few meters away from its premises. Parents contribute at least R250 per annum to the school for other administrative issues.
The school principal said she would “honour the Premier’s request but for only two years” as she was now tired, having taught for 40 years. She said she had another demanding responsibility as she also a pastor in a local church and that she needed to give more attention to her husband who has stroke.
The school principal said she would “honour the Premier’s request but for only two years” as she was now tired, having taught for 40 years. She said she had another demanding responsibility as she also a pastor in a local church and that she needed to give more attention to her husband who has stroke.
“There is no magic really in running a school, it takes only the unity between the school and the parents and a bit of creativity. We think alike with other schools; it is just that we always act on the advices we get.
“Besides recording the activities at the school, the CCTV system helps us to monitor if the teachers are indeed in the classes teaching because we get stories with some teachers.
“Our SGB helps us a lot, without their support it would be very difficult to run a school if the community was disruptive, we are proud that the learners we produce here for high school they get there and excel, but each time credit comes to us,” said Ms Phaladi.
While at the school, the Premier donated more than 300 school uniform to the learners and further committed to donate 50 computers through his DD Mabuza Foundation this year in order for the learners to be computer literate.
Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Office of the Premier
Tel: (013) 766 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za OR zibonelemncwango@gmail.com
