Prayer for improvement in results
Speaking to different local learners, many said they appreciated efforts made by the department to improve the results, but pleaded with Mhaule to improve and encourage professional counselling among learners.
NELSPRUIT – Pastors should lead by example and pray for the government instead of hurling all sorts of negative criticism at them. This was the message by the MEC for education, Ms Reginah Mhaule, during the department’s annual meeting with religious leaders last week.
“You are the people who know the Word of God better, which says that whatever you confess, shall come to pass and if you speak bad about the government, bad is bound to happen, but if you pray, the government will improve and do great things,” she said.
In a bid to have a successful school year, the education department meets with religious leaders every year to report back on the previous year’s grade 12 results, brainstorm plans to improve the results for the year ahead and pray for learners throughout the province.
This year, hundreds of pastors from different denominations around the province gathered at Emnotweni Arena and celebrated last year’s matric-result improvement they had prayed for at the beginning of 2013.
“Last year we held a similar gathering where we asked you to pray and meditate towards the good of our children and today we felt obliged to convene this gathering to indicate that your abundant inclination has certainly contributed in the improved 2013 examination outcomes,” Mhaule told the pastors.
She attributed the incident-free, credible examination process to the good thoughts and dedication of the men of God.
She also expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards the Moral Regeneration Movement for taking stock in matters if education, saying that their steadfast participation had evidently decreased concerns of moral decay among the youth, more especially those who were still attending schools.
“The department cannot even begin to express the appreciation we have for the support we have received and for constant reminders about our responsibilities and the importance of serving the province in a loyal and patriotic manner,” she added.
Praying for the government officials,
Past Malele Israel Malele said that with God’s help, the department would get a
100 per cent pass rate this year.
“I declare that this year will be a year of greatness which will see every child passing their matric examinations,” he declared.
Speaking to different local learners, many said they appreciated efforts made by the department to improve the results, but pleaded with Mhaule to improve and encourage professional counselling among learners.
“It is a good gesture indeed, but I have noticed that many learners are faced with difficult situations at home and need proper counselling so that they can perform better at school,” said Zane Nonyane, adding that he sometimes misses school because of lack of soap to bath and wash his school uniform.
