This is the words of Mr Edward Mosuwe, head of the Gauteng Department of Education, during the launch of the 2018 Secondary School Improvement Project (SSIP) at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark.
The project represents a collaborative partnership between the Gauteng Department of Education, the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre and the NWU’s campus in Vanderbijlpark.
During the launch, Mr Mosuwe – who represented Mr Panyaza Lesufi, MEC for Education in Gauteng – welcomed more than 700 learners from across the Vanderbijlpark region to the campus for the project that will run from 25 June to 5 July. During this time the learners will benefit from an intensified focus on subjects such as mathematics, physics and chemistry, biology, geography, accounting, economics and business economics. The learners will also receive life skills training in time management and effective study methods.
According to Mr Mosuwe the project signifies a R160 million investment by the Gauteng Department of Education and aims to elevate the performance of Grade 12 learners within the Gauteng North educational district. The district is, according to Mr Mosuwe, under performing and subsequently negatively impacts the province’s overall secondary schooling success rate.
He explained that the province’s educational constituency is made up of 15 districts and that the Gauteng North region did not feature as a top 10 best performing region during the 2017 rendition of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. The province boasted with seven districts among the top performing districts nationally.
“As you are seated here today you have been given the opportunity of a lifetime, namely to step-up and become an active member of the fourth industrial revolution,” said Mr Mosuwe and added that good Grade 12 results will ensure that learners are ready to embrace the future.
Acknowledging good performance
To further motivate the learners, Mr Mosuwe committed the Gauteng Department of Education to award study bursaries to any learner who, after completing the NSC examination, finds himself/herself in the top 3 position within the district.
In his address, Mr Clement Manoko, the NWU’s executive director for corporate relations and marketing, wished the learners well with their preparation for the upcoming examinations and urged them to make the most of the opportunity given to them. He furthermore said that by entering into this collaboration, the NWU is pro-actively shaping the future for these prospective university students since better results will ensure that they meet the admission requirements set for tertiary education.
Collaboration makes the dream work
According to Matome Kganakga, project coordinator on the campus, the project not only represents a collaborative partnership between the university and the Department of Education, but also between the community and the campus community.
“Our students offer up their dorm rooms to ensure that learners have a safe place to stay for the duration of the project. By doing this, they are levelling the playing field for by letting these students utilise the superb infrastructure – such as Wi-Fi access, computer rooms and a state-of-the-art library – to assist in their studies. Participating learners will also enjoy getting the feel of campus life,” says Mr Kganakga.
Mr Edward Mosuwe, head of the Gauteng Department of Education.
Dr More Chakane, chief executive officer of the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre.
Mr Clement Manoko, the NWU’s executive director for Corporate Relations and Marketing.
