Imbizo commits to improving education

“As the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), we want to ensure that every pupil and every school in Gauteng is connected to technology.”

These were the words of the Gauteng Department of Education’s Mr Edward Mosowe.

Mr Mosowe spoke on behalf of the Gauteng MEC of Education, MEC Panyaza Lesufi, during an education imbizo that was held at the Ivory Park North Hall on Tuesday last week.

Among the attendees were officials from the Gauteng Department of Education, principals and teachers from Ivory Park schools, faith-based organisations, parents, councillors from the City of Joburg and the Regional Director of Region A (Midrand Region, which Ivory Park and Diepsloot falls under), Ms Abigail Ndlovu.

“As a department we want to make sure the public education’s standard is improved, with township schools being our main priority area. Bringing a proper monitoring system to ensure the independent schools are properly registered, thus preventing our pupils from going to so-called fly by night schools. Full attention will also be given to children with special needs, with the opening of 18 more schools for children with special needs. The other focus area will be the Early Childhood Centres, (ECDs) which form the foundations that help to stimulate the young ones. Skills development will also be another area that will be looked at by our department in an attempt to address the socio-economic imbalances of the past,” said Mr Mosowe.

“We want to reclaim our position as the best performing province, which the Western Cape took last year,” said Mr Mosowe.

“The Gauteng Department of Education is providing education to over 19 000 pupils in Ivory Park schools. As a province we are proud about our last year’s matric results. The Ivory Park school, Eqinisiweni Secondary, obtained an 84,9 percent matric pass rate and became our overall winner. The school was followed by JB Matabane, with 81,9 percent,” he said.

MEC Lesufi has committed to all township schools becoming paperless classrooms, but the department is concerned as the concept has been hard-hit by a spate of burglaries.

Basic Education Minister, Mrs Angie Motshekga, congratulated the principals of Ivory Park schools for their good leadership. She also congratulated the Gauteng Education Department, which is led by Mr Panyaza Lesufi.

She promised to launch the Second Chance Matric Support Programme in Ivory Park.

She acknowledged that her department is faced with huge pressure regarding over crowding at some schools in Gauteng. Other problems include a lack of space and a lack of proper infrastructure.

Minister Motshekga said she has launched the Read to Lead programme, which she hopes will encourage both pupils and the community to read.

She also announced that former Leeds and Bafana Bafana skipper, Lucas ‘Rhoo’ Radebe, will be the ambassador of the Read to Lead programme.