By Charmaine Ndlela
Gauteng education MEC Lebogang Maile has officially launched the “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” Thuto-Pele – Education First community outreach programme.
The two-month initiative seeks to create direct engagement between government, communities and education stakeholders on challenges affecting schools and surrounding communities.
According to the Gauteng Department of Education, the programme will focus on issues including learner safety, crime, vandalism, substance abuse and improving overall education outcomes in public schools.
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In a statement, Maile said the campaign would be rolled out across 46 communities in all 15 school districts in Gauteng.
“Over the coming weeks, we will be embarking on the “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” community engagements across the length and breadth of our province. We have scheduled 46 community meetings across all 15 districts so that we can engage with stakeholders in the education sector,” he said.
Maile added that the engagements would bring together community members, parents, learners, teachers, school governing bodies, churches, youth formations and civic organisations to collectively address challenges facing schools.
The programme, led jointly by the Gauteng Department of Education and the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, is intended to strengthen partnerships between government and local communities.
“These engagements are aimed at strengthening collaboration between government, communities and local stakeholders to identify solutions, protect schools and improve education outcomes in public schools across the province,” Maile said.
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The first community engagement took place on Monday at the Faranani Multipurpose Centre in Tsakane, where community members raised concerns about disruptions to teaching and learning caused by violent incidents among learners, including stabbings at schools.
Residents told the MEC that their communities remain among the hardest hit by education-related challenges in the province, particularly learner violence, substance abuse and school safety concerns.
During the first week of the programme, Maile is expected to visit the Gauteng East and Ekurhuleni North districts, engaging communities in Geluksdal, Tsakane, Etwatwa, Tembisa, Edenvale, Kempton Park, Birchleigh, Elandsfontein and Daveyton.
Maile said education should not be left solely to schools, describing it as a collective societal responsibility.
“We are calling on everyone to step up and be part of the solution,” he said.
The department has encouraged parents, youth groups, taxi operators, faith-based organisations, ward councillors, school governing bodies, sporting structures and community forums to actively participate in the engagements.
“By thinking outside the box and combining the efforts, talents and skills of government with those of various stakeholders, I am confident that we can overcome the challenges facing our schools,” Maile said.
