Premier Mkhize to meet school principals

2 May 2010

Dr Zweli Mkhize, the Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal and MEC for Education Senzo Mchunu are scheduled to meet with school principals from across the province on Tuesday, 4 May 2010 at the Pietermaritzburg College in the morning.

The meeting according to the premier is aimed at ensuring an ongoing interaction with schools principals in order to improve the provision of quality education in our schools.

"The good performance of learners, especially matric students in KwaZulu-Natal during the last term tells you that the people of this province are holding each other's hands and have realised that education is the top priority. We need to continue to support our, principals, teachers and learners because they hold the key to a brighter future," said the premier.

Mkhize further pointed out that government will embark on a campaign entitled: "My Child is Your Child, Your Child is My Child" in an effort to reintroduce parental and community involvement in the discipline of children. He emphasised the importance of ensuring community participation in the progress and performance of learners at school.

"One of the strategies to ensure that matric results for the 2010 academic year are far better than 2009, the premier says government will launch ward education forums across the province.

The provincial government will embark on a campaign aimed at mobilisation of grassroots caders, community workers, volunteers, religious leaders, traditional leaders, community leaders and the members of the public to join education forums in the townships, villages and suburbs. It should be the duty of all members of the forum to work towards the achievement of the following:

* empowerment of parents and communities to understand educational needs of learners in the nearby schools
* advocating for learner-educator and parent partnerships in order to bridge the gap that exists
* advocating for a crime free school environment
* promotion of culture of learning and teaching

"Collectively, we need to identify and remove the key constraints to the provision of quality education. We must guide against the use of valuable time and energy on highlighting our differences in such as way that we magnify our weaknesses and diminish our strengths," he said.

"Community members must seek ways to ensure the provision of education that is aligned to the social and economic development needs of their wards. This education should provide local children with a general base for the acquisition of knowledge, skills and positive attitudes for personal growth.

"It should be the concern of everybody that when learners finish their metric they should proceed to higher education so that they can fill the gap across all sectors of the economy," he concluded.

Contact:

Ndabezinhle Sibiya
Cell: 082 375 4742
Tel: 031 327 9360 or 033 341 3320/3342
Fax: 031 301 0336 or 033 345 8490
E-mail: ndabezinhlesibiya@yahoo.com or sibiyand@premier.kzntl.gov.za

Regi Khumalo
Cell: 079 751 6108

Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
2 May 2010