By Johnathan Paoli
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving education quality and readiness for the 2025 academic year, spearheading a back-to-school #visit to Mpumalanga.
Accompanied by Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule, premier Mandla Ndlovu, education MEC Landulile Dlamini, and senior officials, Gwarube described the visit as marking an opportunity to assess education priorities and engage with stakeholders.
The province has demonstrated significant progress, with the National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate rising from 77% in 2023 to 84.99% in 2024, placing it as the sixth best-performing province nationwide.
The visit included a comprehensive overview of Mpumalanga’s education sector from department head Lucy Moyane.
Ndlovu expressed confidence in the province’s trajectory, aiming for a 100% pass rate in future academic years.
“As you assess our school’s readiness for the upcoming academic year, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the education sector. We believe that education is a vital pathway to continuously improving the quality of education, and we look forward to working together to achieve this goal,” he said.
Gwarube visited three schools on Wednesday, starting at Kamagugu Inclusive School, which accommodates 347 differently abled learners.
The school has garnered national recognition for its achievements, including winning the 2022 World Milk Day Competition and excelling in Down Syndrome athletics and cultural events like the Eisteddfod Poetry Competition.
At Boschrand Primary School, which is dealing with massive overcrowding, MTN contributed 25 tablets to the school’s intermediate phase, highlighting the government’s collaborative approach to addressing education challenges.
The minister then went to Rob Ferreira High in White River, the leading school in the province for athletic achievements.
She praised the tour for allowing her to assess school readiness, celebrate achievements and identify areas for further improvement.
Ndlovu emphasised the importance of synergy between the department, provincial authorities, and local stakeholders to sustain progress.
INSIDE EDUCATION
