PREMIER MABUZA DEMANDS A 100 PERCENT PASS MARK FROM A NEWLY BUILT BUSHBUCKRIDGE SCHOOL
24 January 2015
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has demanded a 100 percent pass mark from the matriculants of a newly built Bushbuckridge school come the end of the year.
Speaking at an official hand over ceremony of Frank Maghinyana Secondary School in Bushbuckridge yesterday [Monday, 23 February 2015], Premier Mabuza said he was expecting no less than a 100 percent pass mark now that the learners, teachers and the community have the state of the art school.
He said he was not happy that the school’s matric results dropped from 92 percent in 2013 to 72 percent in 2014, however now that he had given them the best facility with the necessary resources, he was expecting all the students to pass.
“You wanted your own school, we have given you a brand new school, but I am not happy with the results. Maybe you did not do well because you were using an informal school, now that you have your state of the art school, all I want from you is nothing but a 100 percent pass.
“Your dignity is now resorted, you deserved better. It always pains me that when I am around town, I always see children coming from beautiful schools, but in the townships and in the rural areas, I always see children coming from the bushes. It pains me in such a way that I cannot rest and I cannot sleep.
“Finally, we are still here in the middle of the bush, however we now have beautiful and air-conditioned-buildings with flushing toilets and amenities that will expose our children to quality education. Look after your school, do not destroy what is yours, no one will take it away from you, it will belong to the generations to come,” said Mabuza.
The Premier praised the late local community leader which the school was name after him, Mr Frank Maghinyana, that his vision had paid off. The school was started as a church in 1927, but Mr Maghinyana allowed the community to utilize it as a school during the week.
As the time went on, the community also contributed few informal-classrooms until the provincial government under the leadership of Premier Mabuza undertook to rebuild a school which now comprises of 16 classrooms with a maths and science laboratory, computer centre, library, 24 toilets, administration block, and three sporting facilities for soccer, netball and a tennis court.
The Premier said the community and the provincial government could only make the late Frank Maghinyana’s memory to live on by carrying his dream of educating the people.
“What a great man indeed. The message for all of us as a nation is that, education will liberate us. It will make us intelligent and better people. With education, we can take our destiny with our own hands. The environment at this school is conducive to achieve just that.
“We shall overcome as a nation. Remember we were locked at these places called homelands or the reserves, as a democratic government we had to start afresh everything. Therefore, do not be surprised by our detractors, and do not join the chorus of people singing that we are doing nothing.
“Remember Bushbuckridge was a farm, there was no water here, but this democratic government has brought water, we have built a dam that never existed. This tells you that nothing will stop the people from liberating themselves. I may come and go as the Premier of this province, but the people will not stop to liberate themselves,” said Mabuza.
The Premier gave the school principal the South African flag to be hung at the school’s premises and the official photos. He further gave them a portrait of the late Mr Frank Maghinyana adding that he was giving his family the freedom of the school.
The Premier called on the school governing body to work hard together with the teachers in ensuring that it received a 100 percent pass at the end of the year.
A great 12learners Ms Naledi Chiloane appreciated the government’s effort on behalf of the learners and community committing to take care of the school.
“We are better of than yesterday, Frank Maghinyana will no longer be the same. Out of this good school, there must be the doctors and scientists that will produced here, even one of the presidents of this country must come from here,” said Ms Chiloane.
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