MEC for the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Nonceba Kontsiwe, visited Cofimvaba Senior Secondary School in Cofimvaba and Khanyisa Special School in Cala, as part of a back-to-school programme, last week.
She said that government officials should work tirelessly to provide all the interventions identified in school.
According to her spokesperson, Athule Joka, this initiative by the provincial government is to monitor state of readiness, take stock of the progress that has been made, and provide intervention in identified areas.
“Her visit started at Cofimvaba Senior Secondary School where she addressed the school learners in the assembly. She urged the learners, teachers, and support staff to steer the school back to its former glory.
This school has grown a reputation as one of the top-performing schools over the years,” said Joka.
On the following day she visited Khanyisa Special School in Cala, according to Joka, where the school offers a wide range of studies in trade and handcrafts.
According to him, a school hostel construction project is at an advanced stage, but the main challenge is that it has no progressive integration of learners when they go back to the community.
Kontsiwe said that teachers must not use words that are not building a learner, because psychologically they are killing them.
“Even if we are angry with them let us use words that make them motivated. This will make them know that they can do better.
“When I come back next year, if I will be delegated to come again, I want the number of learners who passed Grade 12 to be more than the one for 2023,” said Kontsiwe.
She added that the issue of the pass rate does not depend on teachers only, but also on learners.
She added that learners must not be discouraged by their background, but each and every one of them must work hard and chase his or her dream.
“Among you we have people who will rule this country one day; when you are reading make sure that you are working hard. Also, you must make sure that you are associating yourself with someone who is also working hard.”
