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Article by Malibongwe Mtima
A two - day education summit aimed at discovering a roadmap for the embattled Mount Frere district started on a high note as district presenters tabled an honest picture of an institution about to disintegrate due to the absence of basic services for school functionality and the district itself.
Despite the yearly budgets received by the district less impact has been recorded to change the dire state of affairs across the board in this district. Due to the current state of affairs, the department’s core business which is teaching and learning has been compromised by the insufficient resources such that the district tops the list nationally with its 168 mud structures.
The few operational schools available in it lack basic issues like school furniture, adequate number of teachers to teach and other teaching material. But, the coherent leadership and management of the district office have been able to glue everything together as available teachers still teach despite the dreadful conditions.
Presenting the state of the district in a full packed Mzimvubu Municipality hall, the district director, Malusi Sobikela described the condition as promising. The presentation was aimed at giving the stakeholders an honest state of the district so that a roadmap can established based on facts and reality of what is happening on the ground.
“Although the district has obtained a 47.2 % pass rate provincially, which is below the provincial and national standard with mathematics and physical science being the worst learning areas in whch our learners have performed. Our 256 schools that are made up of 26 secondary and 224 primary schools need about 225 teachers to function properly as these posts have been vacant for some time now”, said Sobikela.
He also added that the total number of chairs required by schools across the district are 24 907 while only 20 115 desks are needed to these schools.
“Despite the challenges I have highlighted, I still believe that getting the Mount Frere district working and the house in order can be achieved”, added Sobikela.
Sobikela also highlighted the fact that the condition of the district does not only depend on the teachers but, ‘a political will is needed to change the state of affairs in the education sector’.
“I have to state it clearly that results do not depend only on the basics for teaching and learning but priority should be on using the few resources to ensure that we turn our situation around”, said Sobikela
Since the workshop had various stakeholders who included the representatives from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) led by Minister Angie Motshekga, Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA), teacher unions, School Governing Bodies (SGBs), school principals and parents all concurred in a call for unity in education.
Apart from the positive messages of support from the teacher unions, was Nkosi Thandisizwe (Aah Tholengwe) Diko who appreciated the stance of the department in finding ways to ensure that the development and functionality of the district is prioritised.
“Obviously we support this initiative to change the outlook of the district, but addressing this challenge will need all of us to partner and come up with lasting solutions. That must also be accompanied by commitment from all education stakeholders including politicians”, said Diko.
Giving her keynote addressing to the throng was the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga who did not mince her words but welcomed the bold initiative to rescue the education district by all the education stakeholders.
“The report we have received showed that we have serious problems in this district. But, I want to state it clearly that in the main, it’s not the people in the province who have made such, but these problems are inherent.
Additionally, I am excited with the support promised by the traditional leaders, it means that we are going to move quicker as they have agreed to partner with us”, said Motshekga.
She also stated that the Cabinet has given her department some money for infrastructure eradication as she has presented the issue before it.
“We have agreed that the problems of this district are unique and are deeper and they need commitment, time and resources. I want to applaud the people of this area as they survive, because I’m sure if it was another provinces, they might have given up already”, added Motshekga.
“I want to urge our locals to stop charging the department R2 million for a single classroom as such has a potential of destroying government while also driving away the investment in our local communities. We need the services of local businesses but we ask you to be reasonable when conducting business with us”, concluded Motshekga.
Article Tags: summit,
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