All the succesful nations in the world have invested handsomely in education to ensure their long-term and sustainable progress, says the President of South Africa.
President Jacob Zuma echoed these sentiments during the 'President's National Interaction with School Principals' summit held at the Durban's International Convention Centre on Friday.
Zuma had brought a full house as he was leading a powerful delegation that comprised of the Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane, Minister for Higher Education Dr Bonginkosi Nzimande, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga and Deputy Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty.
Zuma highlighted that his government education portfolio heads were gathered in Durban 'to share the common goal of promoting quality education' as he launched, what he termed, 'an ongoing interaction with the key delivery agents as part of the education renewal exercise'.
"We want to underline the fact that education is an apex priority of this government. Today, we're launching a new drive to truly change learning, teaching and management of our schools.
Oour meeting is an acknowledgement that our wonderful policies that were implemented since 1994 have failed to deliver quality education to all the peoples of South Africa" said Zuma.
This schools principal interface with the country's president flows from the undertaking Zuma had made during his State of the Nation address in May 2009, whereby he had alluded to the fact that he would like to meet school principals in line with the ANC 2007 Polokwane resolutions 'to share our vision on the revival of our education system'.
"The new South African administration has created the right foundation to launch this new renewal and change attitudes since 1994.
We today pledge our support and will create a partnership with our principals to ensure an undivided implementation of the education non-negotiables.
Our teachers must teach for seven hours every school day, teachers should be in class, on time, teaching, with no neglect of duty and no abuse of pupils' cautioned Zuma.
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga noted that there was great excitement throughout the teaching & learning fraternity to have a Head of State that was very passionate about education and its transformational imperatives.
"Our principals are the most important partners in the educational renewal campaign and the international studies show that the school manager is the biggest driver of the better educational outcomes" said Motshekga.
And the KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize also called upon the school principals to play a pivotal role in using their educational tools to transform the education sector and the country as a whole.
Friday, August 7, 2009
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