ANC KZN Statement On The Re-Opening Of Schools

Today, the 11th January marks the beginning of teaching and learning as all schools re-open for the year 2012. The ANC in Kwazulu-Natal wishes all students a great success throughout this year. As schooling begins, we call on all teachers to waste no time but to ensure that the learning and teaching is taking place from the first day. There is no time to waste, and any minute wasted cost dearly in the future of our learners.

We are highly impressed by the reports that the learning support materials (LSM) have been distributed to all schools in the province.

The 2011 results call for an intensified campaign to improve the education in our province. Thus, we call on our members and all KZN citizens to partner and work together for a better education. As the ANC, our key focus for this year will be on the following areas:

BUILDING PARTNERSHIP FOR A SUCCESSFUL PROVINCE IN EDUCATION

We call on all stakeholders within the education sector to join hands and work together to ensure the improvement of standard of education in all schools. Critical to this is the role of teachers, parents and students. We call on teachers to pay maximum focus and dedication in educating students. For them, teaching should be a call, which propels them to provide service even beyond hours of employment.

To all parents, the current situation requires that all communities should take a keen interest in the schooling and education system in their areas. Parents should participate in School Governing Bodies, further provide monitoring, and support to their children. Nobody should remain silent when seeing students walking around during school hours, irrespective of whether you know that child or not but a culture of going out of school during school hours should be stopped.

STRENGTHEN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AS A KEY FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION  

It is proven that Early Child Development (ECD) is an essential foundation for proper learning. It is through ECD that children begin to interface with studying.  All children who have gone through the ECD found it easy to cope at primary and secondary levels.

Thus, we call on communities to join hands and start community ECD programme. In this regard, all children who are four (04) and above should be sent to ECD centres. We pledge our communities to use all available facilities to start ECD centres. Where there are no facilities, we should plead families to provide space in their garages and spare family houses. Those who have matriculated and are not employed should volunteer their services in such centres.

In the same spirit, we call on the Department of Education and the Department of Social Development to strengthen their working relationship in ensuring that ECD centres are registered and provided within necessary support for the upbringing of children.

FIGHT AGAINST THE USE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS BY LEARNERS

The scourge of alcohol and drugs abuse remains as the main challenge that afflicts students. Many students spend time in taverns drinking alcohol and taking drugs, which turn to affect the attention they need to dedicate in studying. It is high time that the access of students to alcohol and drug should be fought and defeated.

We call on all ANC branches, MPs, MPLs, Councillors and all community leaders to; once again embark on a provincial-wide campaign against this scourge. We must equally engage all owners of taverns not to sell alcohol to students; and that no tavern should be located in close proximity to schools.
   
PROVIDE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE TO NEEDY SCHOOLS

We have entered the second century of struggle for liberation. During the first century, we defeated apartheid colonialism. This second century should be about the realisation of the Freedom Charter, which among others proclaims that “Doors of Learning and Culture shall be opened”.

There should be no student who will not go to school because of the lack of financial and other material supports. All students should have access to education irrespective of their background. Equally, no Principal or Teacher should deny students access to education because of financial reasons. 

In the same spirit, the government must radically improve the conditions of students in rural and township areas. We cannot afford to observe the legacy of the apartheid era to continue ruining the future of our country. The fact that previous disadvantaged schools continue to tail behind the previously Whites and Indian Schools reflect the persistent lack of support to black students in particular, which is largely due to the lack of necessary infrastructure and facilities. Most of rural and township students still study without libraries and laboratories which affect their performance. Equality is not only defined by the same syllabus but also access to necessary infrastructure and its conditions.

The year 2012 is a great and progressive year for our country. We should all devote maximum efforts toward building a united and prosperous society. Now is the time for all teachers to teach and all students to embark on their studies seriously. 
      

Issued by: ANC KwaZulu-Natal
11 January 2012