GAUTENG’S ROAD TO BETTER EDUCATION

By KOPANO MONAHENG

Gauteng has the potential to be counted among the best in the world when it comes to quality teaching and learning.

But it is not going to happen overnight. It is a long journey that needs me, you and everyone else to play our part.

Gauteng MEC for Education Lebohang Maile has said all schools across the province must have cameras inside classrooms, in corridors and in almost every corner of school premises. The aim is to strengthen accountability and ensure that wrongdoing and corruption are rooted out.

This is just one of many plans aimed at tackling the problems holding schools back — from corruption and wrongdoing to vandalism and other challenges that continue to affect teaching and learning.

Maile said school searches are also being conducted regularly as authorities move to address discipline and safety concerns at schools.

“But these searches happen regularly. As I speak to you now, there are others happening as well because the problem is very important,” Maile said.

He said some schools had become notorious for disorder, with the situation even forcing some parents to deregister their children.

Maile said the department would also take a closer look at learners’ books to establish whether teaching and learning are taking place as they should.

He said he had been told that some learners’ books were empty, raising concerns about whether some educators were doing their jobs.

“Because I am told that some of the books are empty. Not because learners are not coming to school, not because they don’t want to learn, but because some of the educators are not teaching,” Maile said.

Maile said he did not believe any teachers’ union would defend educators who were failing to do their work.

He added that the department would act against educators who were not fulfilling their responsibilities.

“So, we are going to act decisively and deal with those who are coming to school and not doing their work,” Maile said.

As Maile visits schools across the province, including schools facing serious challenges, the focus is on identifying problems, rooting out wrongdoing and putting things in order.

This Wednesday 9 September, he visited schools in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, as part of those ongoing efforts.

The road may be long, but every step matters. That is how Gauteng can build a high-quality education system — one school, one learner and one step at a time.

Images provided by: The Office of the MEC