Education Newsletter Volume 4S’bukosetfu

MPUMALANGA A Pioneering Spirit

educationDEPARTMENT: EDUCATIONMPUMALANGA PROVINCE

Contact Information

HEAD OFFICE

Head of Department:Mrs MOC MhlabaneBuilding 5Government BoulevardRiverside ParkNelspruitPrivate Bag X11341Nelspruit, 1200Tel: 013 766 5049Fax: 013 766 5607

REGIONAL OFFICES

Bushbuckridge Regional Office

Regional Director:Mr DMS Mtembu

Former Hoxani College of EducationKruger National Park RoadHazyview1242Tel: 013 708 5001Fax: 013 708 5158

Ehlanzeni Regional Office

Regional Director:Mr MJ Lushaba

Former Mgwenya College of Education KaNyamazanePrivate Bag X1014KaNyamazane, 1214Tel: 013 766 0302Fax: 013 794 3234

Gert Sibande Regional Office

Regional Director:Ms NV Mthethwa

2 Jager StreetErmelo, 2551Private Bag X 9029Ermelo, 2350Tel: 017 819 3300/1Fax: 017 811 5808

Nkangala Regional Office

Regional Director:Mr JJ MabenaBuilding 5Government Building ComplexKwaMhlangaPrivate Bag X 4021KwaMhlanga, 1022Tel: 013 947 3892Fax: 013 947 2096

Editorial Team

Mr JI Zwane Chief Editor Mr J Makhumba EditorMr E Brunette Graphic Designer

ContributorsMr GS SamboMr DK PhatlaneMr MJ MokoenaMs MF Ndlovu

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Mpumalanga Department of Basic Education

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Editorial Comment 3Establishment of a University 4New School Model in Mataffin 5Meeting with the President 6Premier meeting with Principals 7National Teaching Awards 8Soul Buddyz National Congress 9National Olympiad Report 10The importance of School Readiness 11It is never too late to Succeed 12Non negotiables for Teachers 13Levy Ngobeni an Ambassador for climate Change 14The Choral Music Maestro 15Trends in Education Macro indicators Summary Report 16Kha Ri Gude Campaign Where Are We Now? 17MAGUDU Crowned Champions 18News in Brief 19MRTT Delivers Skills in Rural Communities at the Mkhondo Local Municipality 20Classroom Matters: Planning a file 21

Content Page

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A warm welcome to all our readers, especially to our stakeholders who work tirelessly to make a success of our education.

As the year is ending and our learners will be sitting for the final year examinations, it is our hope that the hard work that has been invested during the course of the year will show even in the final year results.

Once more, we invite readers to participate in S’bukosetfu to inform us about their experiences, thoughts and opinions on matters of education. Any one who has something to say on educational matters can let us know by using the e-mail or telephone numbers provided below.

Taking the unity and strength of oneness to greater heights in education is a priority. This comes as a result of the legacy of the unity shown in the 2010 soccer world cup. We need to tackle and handle education matters as a united front and Fly the Flag on Fridays.

The Department has made strides to mitigate negative effects of the public service strike. This has been done in quite a number of programmes and projects. The MEC for Education has been leading the process hands on read more on this as we are convinced that these efforts should be taken advantage of to influence the end year results.

The education of the less privileged and disabled should also be intended to uplift and develop our learners as espoused in the spirit and letter of Mandela Day Celebration.

Education delivery remains prudent and central to education delivery. Not only educators but learners as well stand to benefit from the Educator Laptop initiative. This initiative will see educators receive laptop computer allowances from the Department thus making it easier and feasible to prepare for lessons.

On the conditions of service front, this edition covers the implementation of the HR Connect Project which seeks to accomplish the correct placements of employees in terms of qualifications, skills, experience and identifying training needs for personal development.

Mpumalanga Province has done tremendously well in the Anglo American Young Communicators Awards over the years. This year has been no different as Sitintile has managed to represent the Province and come with the second runner up prize. Get more of the packaged articles to get an insight of some of the deliverables the Department has achieved.

This is a good read. Enjoy it.

Write to Us

Editorial Comment

Together Educating the Nation

he FIFA Soccer World Cup has come and gone but the legacy remains. The infrastructural development is there for all to see. The challenge is to scale up the infrastructural development to equate the human Tdevelopment programme as a legacy of hosting the world cup. The One Goal Programme is one

initiative that seeks to ensure that the human resource capital is maximized through access to education.

On 12 July 2010 in his address to the nation, President Jacob Zuma challenged the country to sustain the pride and unity exhibited during the world cup. Following this presidential injunction, the Department of Education in collaboration with Brand South Africa has embarked on a “Fly the Flag Fridays” and “Support the Class of 2010” campaigns.

These campaigns are aimed at harnessing and galvanising public “Support for the Class of 2010” founded on the partnership of building a nation that cares. A call is made to all principals, parents, teachers, community members, peers and the general public to show their support for the Class of 2010

School principals will be required to institute and strengthen intervention programmes that support the learners in preparing for the exams. The school community should be mobilized as teachers are motivated to build on the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign pledge for educators and building a culture that is conducive to the practice of unifying values.

The rationale behind the campaign is to motivate learners and to link learning with the concept of building a successful united nation. Every Friday is Fly the flag Fridays and learners will be required to wear their South African team jerseys or T-shirts representing the colours of the flag to school to show their support.

The campaign is split into participation driven themes that will be focused on each week. These themes are aimed at inspiring behavioural changes in our youngsters and, through them to society as a whole.

Schools can organise activities around suggested themes over the next few weeks. These activities are not only aimed at Grade 12 learners but the whole Class of 2010.

For more activities, guides or feedback please visit:

Fly the Flag for South Africa!

www.flytheflag.co.za

Fly the Flag and Support the Class of 2010

Mandela Day Celebration is presented as an irony of life; a celebration where the glitter and gala is renown for its absence but for the minimum 67 minutes of work for social investment and development.

The acts of social responsibility intended to uplift and better the lives of the less fortunate have built and added on the stature of Nelson Mandela, the world icon.

The 2010 Mandela Day Celebration was held on the 17 July 2010 as the 18 fell on a Sunday. The venue was Masinakane Special School which has eight educators and caters for eighty five children with intellectual disability and is in Libangeni Circuit in Dr. JS Moroka Municipality.

Masinakane offers foundational phase education that is divided into three groups i.e. Junior, Middle and Senior Groups. The New Curriculum Statement is on offer and is adapted to suit the learners' abilities as well as vocational training in the form of beadwork and shoemaking.The celebration was intended to improve and refurbish the school's condition to better the quality of life of the learners. Refurbishments done covered the painting of the hostels, replacing broken window frames, plumbing and replacing broken toilet seats, bath basins and broken furniture.

Thomas Mokau is a 15 year old senior group learner at the school and stands to benefit from this social responsibility programme. He says that he enjoys the extra curricular part of his schooling and wants to thank all those who have contributed blankets and other material to make their stay and sleep comfortable.

According to the Principal, Ms Tebogo Makita, “The donations have come at the opportune time. The school now looks and feels good and new. The moral of the learners and the school community has improved. I also want to express our gratitude to all those who have contributed towards this cause.” The day also had its fair share of nature conservation as trees and vegetable gardens were planted. The Mpumalanga Department of Education expresses its heartfelt gratitude to all partners; Gestertner, Buscor, Dr. JS Moroka Local Municipality, Nkangala FET College and MRTT who contributed to the success of the Mandela Day Celebrations.

Mandela Day Celebration

Masinakane Special School learners celebrating Mandela Day alongside their care givers

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That same day in February 1910A man came out onto the dais

Distant as a god a heroRaised his fist with an adoration

“We have been waiting all our lives for this”

Oh! What a man so brave and strongI see struggle and hope in his eyes

After all these years, he stands so tallA coloured hero for all the times

Who is this man?Is he a hero, No?

Is he a saviour, no no?Is he a statesman, NONONO

Is he a model, NONONONOHe is only that but he is all thoseA hero, saviour, statesman, model

And he is even more than those combined

Nelson Mandela is his nameHe comes from the Great AfricaNelson Mandela a true Africa sonAll your life you defied the oddsEven presently when you are old

You stand up for what you believe and valueTolerance and patienceWill always be seen in youOur great African Son

A living LegendNot only in Africa

But in the whole world

A Poem for Mandela

The Honourable NS Mtsweni, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education, Sport and Recreation deliveringthe keynote adress

Student artisans from MRTT busy with renovations

Departmental officials and volunteers painting the school

Mandela Day Celebration

This poem was presented by Thabo Manda a grade 6 learner at Ekuchatuzeni Primary School in Barberton, Ehlanzeni District.

Together Educating the Nation

Mandela Day in Pictures

1GOAL is a campaign seizing the power of football to ensure that education for all is a lasting impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

By bringing together footballers and fans, charities and organisations around the world, together we can call on world leaders to make education a reality for 72 million children by 2015. These children could be the NEXT generation’s leaders, sport stars, doctors and teachers.

But without an education they are confined to a life of poverty. Ambassadors & Supporters

Hundreds of footballers, celebrities and world leaders have pledged their support for 1GOAL – will you join them? =David James - England Goalkeeper =Rio Ferdinand - England and Manchester United =Robin Van Persie - The Netherlands & Arsenal =Robinho - Brazil & Manchester City =Gary Lineker OBE - England (retired), Broadcaster =Michael Essien - Ghana & Chelsea =Kevin Spacey - Actor & Director

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In its mission to accelerate service delivery and to improve the working environment of South African teachers, the Department of Education will subsidise teachers around the country with Laptops. Teachers around the country will become eligible for laptops from July after a scheme which would make purchases of

the computers a condition of their service was gazetted in Parliament.

The initiative will be phased in over two years. Teachers will be given allowances of R11 750 each over five years. The cost projections are R4 000 for the hardware, R300 for the software, R1 200 for insurance and R6 000 for internet connectivity. About R550 million a year will be given to Provincial Education Departments for a five-year period to fund the plan. Teachers' training manual, guidelines, learning programmes and subject assessment guidelines will be included in the content loaded on the computers. Senior teachers are first in line to benefit from this initiative.

“The initiative remains a serious challenge and the impact of this technology could have fantastic implications to bring many educators out of the normal teaching pothole they currently find themselves in, so they should teach us how to use the laptops”, said Miss Matsebula from Phindela Primary School.

Mr. Patrick Mkhonto from SADTU says there is still a need to discuss this programme because the Department still needs to address the educators about the initiative. “This is a good initiative and it will benefit the educators because it will be easy for them to do their work using the laptops in such a way that it will be more feasible for teachers to integrate shared folders with others”, he concluded.

Mr. SR Mhlongo, a principal of Phindela Primary School, said what is important about this initiative is that teachers must be prepared and the government should provide training because some of the educators are not in a position to utilize the laptops.

Though, this is a grand initiative, the lack of electricity in rural areas remains one of the challenges that the government needs to look into

Educator Laptop Initiative

Bridging the digital divide and bringing computers in the classroom

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Istand before you full of joy and excitement because today we come to witness the launch of the Provincial Laptop Initiative.

This is good news and I will not have a problem if we sing, dance and ululate for this programme has come to fruition.

I am a teacher by profession and have a fair understanding of what it takes to prepare daily lessons. I have practical experience of the challenges that confront our educators to gather information relevant for the enhancement of the teaching process.

There is a saying that goes, “Today is be better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today”

Indeed, heavens have opened up because we are delivering what matters most for the improvement and delivery of quality education in the Country and the Province in particular.

The Laptop Initiative is an endeavour to improve the knowledge base of our educators and to make them resourceful.

I agree with those who will argue that this launch was long overdue. However I find contentment that it has finally come to life.

What makes me even happier is that this initiative is launched on the week marked by teachers in the province sacrificing their holidays to participate in the Departmental Catch-Up Programme.

I have visited some schools during the week and I was inspired by the level of commitment, courage and dedication.

As a Department, we have done a lot to support our learners and educators alike. To that effect, the Department has implemented with success an intensive Winter School Programme, radio lessons, the Dial a Tutor Programme that is proving to be a success story and our educators are volunteering their services on weekends to improve learner performance.

As we launch this initiative, I wish that educators can see it as government's way of expressing profound appreciation of the good work they do.

We are proud that we have educators who stop at nothing to help our learners to progress and prosper in life.

October is a month where we should encourage the people of the world to value and appreciate the benevolence of educators.

Tuesday will be World Teachers' Day and I take this time to urge our communities to make an effort to express their appreciation for our educators.

We must continue to work side by side with Educators' Unions to reclaim the good image of our educators and the teaching profession.

I am convinced that the conduct we witnessed during the protracted strike in some parts of the country is not a true resemblance of our committed professional educators.

ng that a decision to establish this Initiative will go a long way in the history of education in this country.

MEC’s Message on the Laptop Initiative

Programme Director, this initiative is focused at improving Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning and aims to ensure that every teacher owns and uses a laptop for the enhancement of the teaching process.

These laptops come with an ICT package consisting of an appropriate hardware and software, as well as, internet connectivity and all with prescribed minimum specifications.

The Laptop Initiative will also serve as a catalyst for the eradication of the digital and technological divide. This is truly so as both the urban and rural educators stand to benefit from this initiative.

Our believe is that even poor communities will be taken on board with regards to quality lesson delivery as much information needed for a well researched and prepared lesson plan will be just a finger tip away.

We are also convinced that this Initiative will largely contribute towards the quality of the teaching and learning process as much as the administration and management of schools. Record keeping and filing will thus not be cumbersome as the Laptop Initiative provides an easy option as opposed to paper records and files.

The 29 231 educators participating in the Laptop Initiative will be required to utilize this facility for their teaching and administration activities.

As much as we are excited about the availability of these laptops and software, we should be equally vigilant about the need to take good care of these tools.

There are a handful of educators who have already received training on computer literacy, including connectivity of email, internet and the use of various software packages. This will continue and will be improved since educators have the tools now.

Technology is an ingredient for us to work smart and t o i m p r o v e r e q u i s i t e s k i l l sand with this initiative, teachers will be able to share ideas and learn from each other on the methods they use in their schools to improve the standard of teaching and learning.

The Teacher Laptop Initiative forms part of the cohesive plan by the Department and other stakeholders in education to improve the overall quality of education by making resources available to learners and teachers in the public education sector.

I want to urge all accredited service providers to ensure a seamless implementation of this initiative. Please help our educators with adequate information and support in this regard.

Equally, I take this time to appreciate the pivotal role that the Education Labour Relations Council has played in this regard. The role played by the educators' unions in ensuring that a decision to establish this Initiative will go a long way in the history of education in this country.

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MEC’s Message on the Laptop Initiative continued

In the quest for improved service conditions and employee eff ic iency, the Mpumalanga Department of Education in collaboration with the

Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has embarked on the implementation of the HR Connect Project.

The project has been initiated at a National level

by the DPSA, and the funding for implementation

will be supplied by the DPSA.

All departmental employees stand to benefit from

this project and it will be coordinated by the HRM,

HRD, Communication, IQMS as well as the

Labour divisions.

The HR Connect Project seeks to confirm the

department's structure and update on PERSAL;

ensure that each post on the structure is identified

by applicable job titles; Job Profiles that specify

the specific outputs of posts in the department are

defined, confirmed and cross referenced with

other departments and resources;

Survey forms have been designed to record the

post and employee specific data are produced,

distributed to all employees for completion where-

after the data will be captured by a service

provider as appointed by the DPSA.

Information on the HR Connect Project processes

is managed by a web-based human resource

management information system which will be

utilised for amongst others; dynamic reporting;

updating of information; generation of post

profiles;

workplace skills plans;

Annual training and reports and related employee

personal development plans.

Together Educating the Nation

HR Connect Project

Senior Management will be work shopped on the

project, where-after all supervisors in the

Department will be trained. The various Trade

Labour Unions will also be updated on every

aspect of the project.

Every aspect of the project will be effectively

communicated. The project is compulsory to all

departments at National level and will be funded

by the DPSA if finalised by the 31st of December

2010.

For more information, please call Mr. MJ Tshoba at

013 766 5297 or Ms Leorma Delport at 013 766

5558.

Mr. MJ Tshoba ; Chief Director: Corporate Services

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Ms. G J Garnett-Bennett, Senior Education Specialist responsible for Economic and Management Sciences in the Senior Phase attached to Gert Sibande was selected to participate in the Council for Economic Education (CEE) Training of Writers programme. This is a year-long initiative which was

launched with a one-week workshop in Washington, D.C. in August 2010.

The Writers programme is an activity of the Cooperative Education Exchange Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education and carried out in coordination with the U.S. Department of State. Ms. Garnett-Bennett spent one week in Washington, D.C. developing writing skills while working with teachers from around the world.

Ms. Garnett-Bennett was one of twenty-four writers selected for this programme. The other participants hail from six countries, including Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States.

Asked to talk about how she will be improving teaching and learning at the classroom level, Garnett-Bennett had this to say, “Our teachers can also gain from this process. The lessons that I wrote will also be available on the website, after a long process of screening, field testing, recommendations and constant improving. These lessons give the teachers all the information they might need. Very clear step-by-step instructions, background info, notes for learners, visuals, assessments and assessment tools, memoranda, posters, etc. Even an inexperienced teacher can teach with great confidence! We should do the same in SA! We also have excellent teachers! I am willing to workshop our best teachers on the CEE lesson format, which is much more detailed than the lesson plans we expect of teachers. Our teachers do lesson plans, just as a summary of what they are planning to do and how they are going to do it.”

One hundred and sixty three U.S. educators from 34 states and 179 educators from 31 countries have taken part in this program since 1996. The Writers program helps build a pool of economic educators capable of producing their own Economics lessons. The program encourages the development of active-learning instructional materials, offers guidelines for writing lessons using a variety of instructional strategies, and provides participants with intense writing practice, feedback, and guidance in improving writing skills. Outstanding lessons composed within the Writers program are published on the CEE website and in lesson s a m p l e r s . T h e s e l e s s o n s a r e a v a i l a b l e t o t e a c h e r s f r e e o f c h a r g e a t

.http://www.councilforeconed.org/ei/lessons/

Ms GJ Garnett -Benett, (encircled and insert) with other educators from all over the world.

Garnett-Bennett Spreads Her Wings

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The 2010 FIFA Socer World Cup has come and gone but the legacy remains. The activities and festivities associated with the soccer and

the hype of the World Cup will linger in the memories of the kids who benefitted from ‘The 2010 School Adventure.”

The National Department of Education in partnership with the Department of Sport and Recreation, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in an effort to educate and get some 12 million South African school pupils, both boys and girls, excited about the 2010 FIFA World Cup came up with the 'My 2010 School Adventure' project.

The 'My 2010 School Adventure' is a project that was initiated by FIFA in collaboration with the National Department of Education (NDoE) as a follow-up of a similar project that took place in the 2006 World Cup which took place in Germany.

As part of the 'My 2010 School Adventure,' the World Cup Ticket fund ensured that learners had a chance to participate in the departmentally arranged activities within the concept 'My 2010 School Adventure' and this was achieved with a resounding success.

My

All tickets were sponsored by Adidas and Coca-Cola through the National Education Department which distributed them to Provincial Education Departments.

The education pillar was an implementation of an integrated education campaign which comprised of Fine Arts, Essays, Poetry Competitions and Performing Arts. Only 1300 tickets were issued to 13 schools which participated on this project in Mpumalanga.

The brief from sponsors was to select schools within a radius of 50km from Mbombela Stadium but this idea was rejected by Provincial and Regional Sport coordinators because it meant that only learners from Ehlanzeni Region would benefit. Regions were requested to submit 1 school per sub Region and the following schools.

During the 2009 Confederation Cup Mpumalanga Province adopted Egypt and during the 2010 School World Cup Mpumalanga adopted Honduras, Italy and Ghana with reference to the politics, culture, religion and national anthems.

The project had two pillars namely; participation pillar which offered soccer as well as the education pillar with Fine Arts, Poetry, Drama, Music and Dance. Schools classified in the mainstream and LSEN.

My 2010 School Adventure: A Legacy

The Diski Dance dorminated the whole of South Africa

Traditional Damcers are a sight for sore eyes

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Parental love and support can do a lot for a child, even propelling her to the greatest heights of success. Seventeen year old Engellinah Ngobe can attest to this.

The learner from Sitintile High in Ehlanzeni District has conquered the provincial Anglo American Communicators' Awards debate scene thanks to the motherly support she received from Thoko, her mom. An ambitious girl who yearns for the fast and furious cars like Bugatti, Engellinah says she is an embodiment of emancipation and would love to be the next Oprah Winfrey. Angellinah went on to be crowned second runner up in the national stage of the competition.

This beautiful young lass likes to spend time with family and enjoys a very close and special relationship with her mom.

Her speech entitled “Emancipation from Slavery” made a call to the audience to “…think about South Africa 16 tears ago...” and “...mind about the realities engulfing us…” The point of her argument was an advocacy for cool heads to prevail when contending with serious issues pertaining to South Africa, the beautiful homeland.

Engellinah is a great follower of Mahatma Gandhi whose character and personality should be aligned with to impact the world positively socially, economically and politically.

She contends that young people, especially girls, should believe in the common saying that every one is a winner regardless of their past history and family economic status.

Engellinah advocates for the total emancipation of women which she argues can be done solely though liberating the mind. She points out that she is opposed to the oppressive chains such as polygamy, illiteracy, alcoholism and other addictions. She sees education as the solution to all these social ills.

Mr. Sinqobile Mkhonza, an educator at Sitintile who has nurtured and mentored scores of other successful young communicators, says that he is proud of Engellinah. “She is committed and dedicated to what she does and wishes that other parents could also give support to their children to follow their dreams.”

Emancipation Through Young Voices

Mr Engelinah Ngobe displaying the prize cheque Sinqobile Mkhonza, an educator at Sitintile with

On 18 August the Public Service Unions balloted for Civil Service strike for a demand of 8.6% and R1000 housing allowance with

other benefits such as the equalization of medical aid subsidy. This meant that a number of schools were left with no teachers in class.

The Provincial Department of Education, led by MEC Reginah Mhaule, was concerned of the impact the strike might have on the performance of the learners.

Senior Management sat and planned a stop-gap measure to minimize the impact the strike will have on the learner's.

The first step the Department planned for assisting Grade 12 learners with dealing with the curriculum during the strike period was to print and distribute learner study material that covers aspects of the curriculum.

The study materials was circulated through provincial newspapers and covered the following subjects; Economics, History, Geography, Business Economics, Accounting, Agriculture, Life Sciences, Physical Science, Mathematics and Maths Literacy.

These study materials were subsequently distributed to all circuits to dispatch directly to schools for the Grade 12 learners not to idle but start preparations for the trial examinations.

Managing The Impact of the Strike

The Dial a Tutor programme was the second step the Department implemented the impact the strike had especially on Grade 12 learners. The Dial-a-Tutor programme is a programme that allows learners to call from home and ask a Curriculum Specialist to assist them when experiencing a problem while studying.

The Dial a Tutor programme runs every evening from 16H15 to 20H00. Learners are allowed to call from their cell phones or from a Telkom landline telephone and the operator links them to the relevant Curriculum Specialists.

A high volume of learners responded positively to the call to utilise the Dial-a-Tutor programme. This programme will continue to assist learners until 03 December 2010 when the last paper of the Grade 12 examination is written.

The third programme that the Department has put in place was to create a platform through electronic media where lessons were offered. SABC radio stations Ligwalagwala, Ikwekwezi and other different community radio stations came to the party.

These initiatives allowed the learners a chance to listen to a teacher presenting a lesson therefore giving them a different angle to enhance their learning process.

The strike came to a halt after four weeks. The Department in consultation with Union leaders resolved to extend the teaching and learning time for Grade 1-12 during the duration of the September holidays. The last initiative was to establish 10 Weekend Learning Centres for Grade 12 learners.

Each District will have one learning centre except for Bohlabela which will have seven centres.

These initiatives are aimed at helping the learner to improve their performance and give an improved overall percentage to last year's 47%.

The Province is hopeful that the current Grade 12 learners will apply themselves better and give the people of the province a performance to be proud of.

The Department wishes every learner that will be seating for examinations well and success with their studies.

MEC Reginah Mhaule; leading the recovery programme

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On 14 September 2010, Mrs Reginah Mhaule, Member of the Executive Council for Education visited Lihawu High School in

Msogwaba in the Ehlanzeni District to get first hand information on how the preliminary examinations were proceeding.

The MEC summed up her observation of the preliminary examinations by saying, “Ever since the province started with the preliminary examinations, there has not been any disruptions with the preliminary examinations.”

The preliminary examinations are a precursor to the November final examinations. The peaceful commencement of the preliminary examinations as evident in the perfect proceedings in Lihawu brings hope that learners are ready and prepared.

In an effort to mitigate poor performance in the November examinations, the Mpumalanga Department of Education will provide extra classes during the September school holidays to cover for lost time.

“I believe that the students are ready for the examinations because during the World Cup, they attended three week winter classes. I would like to believe that they will perform much better and improve the province's overall results,” the MEC concluded.

MEC Reginah Mhaule going through the paces of invigilation at Lihawu High School.

Learners attending the morning briefing

A grade 12 class getting ready for the examination

Examination Monitoring

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ABSA's donation to Ntataise to empower practitioners embodies and exemplifies principles of

partnership, integrated support and co-operation between the private sector and state departments.

It is a step in the right direction that all stakeholders in ECD can affirm wholeheartedly with

resoluteness that the interests and welfare of young children is of paramount importance to the social and

economic transformation of our fledgling democracy.

As young learners are going to be our future leaders that will determine the economic prosperity and socio-

political landscape of the country, it is evidently required that all relevant stakeholders need to put the shoulder

to the wheel in devising strategic methods of providing relevant, effective and efficient ECD provisioning to all

recipients, irrespective of race, class, culture and creed.

The funds that were donated to Ntataise Trust will be used to train 50 ECD practitioners in level one and four in

the Mbombela and Nkomazi local municipalities. These identified practitioners will be presented a national

certificate on the completion of their studies. Certificates in Level one and four will enable practitioners to

manage their centres as small businesses.

Upgrading the qualifications of practitioners will certainly improve the quality of education stimulation

programmes offered in rural and disadvantaged communities. The future of a child's success is determined by

the practitioner's support and guidance during play based informal games/sessions conducted in the

classroom. The upgrading of the qualifications of the practitioners will in indeed assist in providing young

children with a firm and solid foundation for formal schooling.

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Mr. Pat Moodley, CES Early Childhood Development appreciating the partnership

Private-Public Partnership

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September is marked as a tourism and heritage month. This calls for all schools to showcase their heritage legacy. It is very encouraging to note the sudden change of heart from South Africans with regard to observing Heritage Day. A number of interesting cultural festivities are held all over the

country marking the diversity in our heritage. This awakening spirit should be directed to our schools to start learning about the rich heritage our country is endowed with.

Heritage is our legacy that is informed by the past experiences of our ancestors, which is part of our lives today and will be passed on to our next generations. Heritage can either be cultural as in our way of doing things; in our language or it can be natural such as the kinds of plants or vegetation that we have and the unique landscape or seascape peculiar to our community. Our heritage both the natural and cultural are people's i r r e p l a c e a b l e s o u r c e s o f l i f e a n d i n s p i r a t i o n .

When we speak heritage what comes to mind is the Pyramids of Egypt, Victoria Falls the pride of the Zambians, the Nile Delta a signature of Africa, the rock drawings of the San people, the Eiffel Tower of Paris and the Great Wall of China. South Africa is renown for its diverse indigenous languages, the Fossil Hominid sites that makes the Cradle of Humankind, Kruger National Park, the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscapes, the Table Mountain in Cape Town and the Robben Island heritage site, just to mention a few.

The Heritage Sites of each country add up to the concept of the World Heritage which is governed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of importance and outstanding in value to humanity. Schools should lead the campaign of familiarizing the learners with their heritage and what it means to every person of the country.The starting point could be the cultural heritage of each learner will be their languages, cultural dress code, and cultural dance of different ethnic tribal groups, different rituals performances and their meaning.

Learners should also be gradually introduced to the National symbols and their protocols such as the South African Flag, the National Anthem, the National Secretary bird, the National Protea flower. Every year each school should plan how to celebrate Heritage month with different themes to assist learners in understanding their heritage and how important it is to the whole country. Once learners are able to know the worth of their heritage, they will start to appreciate and conserve our heritage and legacy.

Protecting Our Heritage

The three rondavels are a marvel and part of Mpumalanga’s heritage

MPUMALANGA A Pioneering Spirit

educationDEPARTMENT: EDUCATIONMPUMALANGA PROVINCE

Dial-a-TutorThe Dial a Tutor is now freely accessible to learners/parents who are using cell phones

A caller makes a call on ,which then becomes a missed call. Immediately there after the caller will receive a call from and

thereafter with the following instructions:

Welcome and First menu;You have reached the Mpumalanga

Department of Education. Your call is important to us.

For Dial a Tutor press ?. To speak to the operator press ?.

Second Level Menu (Dial a Tutor):

= Mathematics press ?,= Mathematical Literacy press �= Physical Science press ?, = Accounting press �,= Agriculture press �,= Life Science press ?,= Geography press ?,=Economy press ?,

0800 203 116

012 345 9600

Together Educating the Nation