The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education’s Umzinyathi district held its inauguration of the new Representative Council of Learners (RCL) last week at Dundee High School. The keynote address was delivered by the Acting District Director of Education, SW Keswa. The KZN RCL members of Umzinyathi and their respective principals were present for their respective pledges in terms of this process.
The Representative Council of Learners are not prefects, and have been established in terms of section 11 of the Schools Act. This council will be at every public school enrolling Grade eight and higher, and is the only recognised and legitimate representative learner body at schools.

The RCL will elect its representative in the school governing body, (SGB), which gives it a higher status than the old prefect structures had, as these learners will be recognised as members of the SGB. These learners are inducted in their respective tasks and responsibilities between March and April each year. A full breakdown of the entire objective, tasks and conduct of the councils have been put together in a booklet that is available at the Department of Education.
Representatives of the local Standard Bank Branch presented a talk on the range of student loans that have been made available for learners in assisting them to attain their dreams.