Deputy President Motlanthe arrives in Mpheko High School (13 January 2010); Eastern Cape Department of Education

Deputy President Motlanthe arrives in Mpheko High School

Posted on Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Article by Loyiso Pulumani

The South African Deputy President, Hon Kgalema Motlanthe started the school year on a high note with the learners of Mpheko Senior Secondary School, when he joined them for their opening devotions, to usher in 2010.

Accompanying the Deputy President was a high level delegation composed of: the minister in the Presidency responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation Mr Collins Chabane, Deputy Minister of Education Mr Enver Surty, Eastern Cape Premier Hon. Ms Noxolo Kiviet, and Education MEC Mahlubandile Qwase who played host to the delegation.

After introducing the delegation, MEC Qwase was only too happy to hand over to Hon Montlante, who wasted no time in calling on the school to make sure that this year they avoid attracting only negative publicity for their once prosperous institution. He reminded the learners that they have a chequered history as MEC Qwase was previously a teacher at the school. He encouraged them to insist on devoting all their time at school learning even if that meant missing out on other seemingly interesting activities happening outside the school.

Despite the poor performance of the school, Motlanthe challenged the community of Mpeko to own the school as it reflects the aspiration of such community. “I would like you to commit yourselves in making sure that this school becomes a centre for community development”, urged Montlathe.

The co-operation between the school and the community according to Motlanthe is vital to turn the image of the school. “This school can change if you all work together towards providing solutions to all problems of the school before running to the media” he emphasised.

He informed the learners, to loud cheering, that after this visit he regarded himself as member of the school and that he would not hesitate to visit the school everytime he was in this area. “Rest assured that I will be watching the progress of this school very closely”, he said. “I hope next year you will be mentioned amongst the best performing schools in the Eastern Cape,” he said in conclusion.

Article Tags: Kgalema Motlanthe, Deputy President

Previous page Print this page

Favourites

Export to PDF

Reader's Comments

Add your comments

by cradic - 14:33 on 09 February 2010

ek is baie bly na dat the deputy president visited mpheko high school. i wish he could visit other schools in pe as well, almost all black schools are the same as one of mpheko students mentioned that the teachers children are schooling in white schools, therefore they dont care about other children's future.