education campaign to ensure quality learning, teaching
10 October 2008
 
Education Minister Naledi Pandor said the campaign sought to make citizens aware of the importance of education, and their roles, responsibilities and obligations towards education.  “On the education front, the campaign calls on all individuals and organisation to assume responsibility for improving the quality of education. “The education must become a priority whereby all the members of the community participate to ensure that our children acquire better education,” she said.

The minister has called all the stakeholders including government, teachers, unions, learners and parents to make a commitment to a Code for Quality Education which describes the responsibilities and discipline required for them.Ms Pandor advised that if all sections of civil society work together all learners will benefit from quality education.  According to the department every stakeholder will have a responsibility to ensure that this campaign is affective.

Ms Pandor said the department’s officials should ensure that all schools receive the necessary resources in time for teaching to commence and to assist all schools to improve their performance, ensuring regular tests were conducted and that results were reported to parents. She added that teachers should make sure they teach to advance and develop learners as independent individuals that are punctual, enthusiastic, well prepared for lessons, and of sober mind and body.

Learners were urged to accept the main reason for being in school was to learn and develop academically, socially and culturally and also to avoid anti-social behavior like left, vandalism, assault, alcohol and drug abuse and other activities that disrupt the learning process.     The campaign will also focus on the critical role of all teachers, in the quality interventions required for effective learning and teaching to take place.Supporting the campaign, the acting President of South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), Thobile Ntola said the union was prepared to support the campaign.

“The campaign calls on all of us to clearly identify our roles and responsibilities in delivering quality education. “As educators we are obliged to live and work according to the Code of Conduct agreed by the South African Council for Educators.”  The Acting President said in supporting the campaign the unions were also affirming that as educators they have a vital role to play in ensuring quality education becomes a reality for all children.

Proffesor Ndawonde, www.buanews.gov.za