By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Free State premier opens the school year with a visit to Maluti – a – Phofung’s impoverished schools and imparts a message that handing out uniforms to learners should be revised because it takes away parents’ dignity.
As public schools open on 17 January 2024, Lerato Primary school in Makwane and ZR Mahabane Intermediate school in Lusaka are honoured with a visit from Free State premier Mxolisi Dukwana and the Thabo Mofutsanyana Education district director Lindiwe Mabaso as well as MAP executive mayor Masetjhaba Mosia – Lakaje. This visit saw the principals of both schools receiving school uniforms and school supplies which they will adequately distribute to the learners who need the assistance.
While addressing the staff and honoured guests at ZR Mahabane Intermediate school Dukwana said the following. “Teachers are amongst the most dedicated civil servants in our communities, and they go out of their way to make sure that they do their best. As we are here today with our stakeholders to hand over uniforms and school supplies, I would like to plead to everyone here that we start to do things differently, because this handing over of school supplies and uniforms to learners really takes away the dignity of parents in their children’s eyes.
We as a community should try to uplift and support each other in more positive ways, I urge the principal and his staff to be the ones who identify the needy learners and hand over the resources to their parents.”
In his speech ZR Mahabane Intermediate school’s principal Ntsane Mokoena said that this is a very significant and special visit because the school celebrates its 20th year of being established and the department of education has agreed to add a grade 7 class to make the school a full primary school. Mokoena mentioned that ZR Mahabane was a teacher and minister who was at the helm of the ANC struggle and he was the party’s president two times.
“As a school we feel very honoured by this visit from the premier and our district, this must show that the gods are with us this year because we are celebrating 20 years of establishment, and we are being honoured with this visit. This feels great,” Mokoena said in an Interview with The Guard.
Premier Mxolisi Dukwana handing over learning materials to schools.
In closing district director Lindiwe Mabaso said that the premier has come to the right circuit because this is the school circuit that really cares about the holistic wellbeing of the learners and have created conducive environments for learning.
“As a district we encourage principals and SGB members to never settle for less for the learners. Principals must pay attention to the needs of the learners and work hard to meet these needs,” Mabaso said.
