By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, has appealed to all stakeholders to work together with the department to ensure successful schooling,as schools prepare ahead for the 3rd term.
Teachers and pupils are expected to return to school on Tuesday, following a three-week winter holiday.
In a statement, Gwarube said there is a need for everyone to ensure a conducive environment for teaching and learning during this period.
“This term has 11 weeks with 53 actual school days. We, therefore, urge school communities to mobilise the rest of society to ensure that effective teaching and learning take place so that our learners can achieve their full potential. Our schools should ensure that the set work for the year is completed and that revision time is done in good time, “she said.
“The third term is a critical one in the school calendar as it is the last quarter before learners sit for their final examinations”.
Gwarube has also condemned the burglaries at four schools in Limpopo where valuable items were stolen and at one school set alight during the holidays.
“The vandalism, theft and damage to property will negatively affect the schools. We call upon members of the community to work with the police in order to bring the criminals to face the full might of the law. We cannot afford a situation where the future of our children is jeopardised,” she said.
She outlined her determination to address the key challenges facing the education sector and she has taken an aggressive approach to her new role and has immersed herself in the education legislation.
“If we are going to raise a generation of children who are going to be primed for future economies, we need to get literacy and numeracy right, and we need to get it right urgently,” Gwarube said.
“The issue around literacy and numeracy rates in South Africa is very important to me. Some of these issues are close to my heart,” underscoring her commitment to addressing these challenges effectively.”she added.