NTABANKULU Local Municipality recently held a successful Back-to-School Achievers Awards programme.
Head of Communication from this municipality, Lungisile Mzanywa, said this mayoral event is held annually to, inter alia, recognise excellence in our space, motivate pupils on the course of learning, thereby fighting illiteracy, and eventually curbing unemployment and lack of skills amongst youth.
“Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, outlined that Ntabankulu is now one of her prioritised municipalities in terms of the departmental career guidance and bursary beneficiation, when students show interest in Mineral Resources and Energy careers,” said Mzanywa.
She added that she further outlined that it is important for youth to show interest in these careers, because the country needs solutions on these aspects.
Mayor for Ntabankulu Local Municipality, Councillor Tsileng Sobuthongo, stated that this municipality would continue supporting education as a measure curbing unemployment, inequality and poverty.
Mzanywa added that Sobuthongo further stated that plans are afoot for the establishment of an agricultural college in Ntabankulu, as a result of the engagement she had with the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, in September 2021.
“Sobuthongo urged the youth to take advantage of the opportunity and acquire industry skills. The Principal from Zinyosini Senior Secondary School in Ntabankulu, Luxolo Jijana, confirmed that his school was one of the schools awarded on the day.
“We are very proud, because this has given us more strength to do more in this year. We obtained 96,2 percent in Matric results of 2022, even though we dropped a little bit, because we obtained 98 percent in 2020 and in 2021,” said Jijana.
He said that this year they are planning to work harder so that they can achieve 100 percent. Jijana confirmed that they managed to do well because of teachers who dedicated themselves in ensuring that they play their roles in the classrooms.
“Learners and parents also showed more dedication. We even hosted a Book Day where parents would come to school and see the work of their children.”
Another principal, from Mnceba Senior Secondary School, Vuyani Feketha, said it was not their first time getting support from this municipality. “We obtained 90,5 percent in Matric results due to the dedication of our teachers. We obtained 87 percent in 2021 and now we are looking forward to 95 percent and upwards,” said Feketha.
He added that one of the things assisting them is that Grade 12 learners start classes at 07:00 during the week, then on Saturdays and Sundays they start from 08:00 to 13:00.
