Inside Education Reporter
Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, convened the final Council of Education Ministers (CEM) meeting for the 6th Administration on 25 April 2024.
The Minister expressed her sincere gratitude towards MECs for their dedication and continued commitment towards education excellence during her term, and during COVID-19 in particular.
“The pandemic was one of the most challenging situations that the education system had to face, but we, with your support, managed to pull through. In fact, we turned the challenges presented, into opportunities to improve and to streamline education towards an upward trajectory”.
The Minister requested MECs to prepare provincial input for presentation during a possible joint or individual accountability session, and for inclusion in a national handover report to be compiled during May 2024, to amplify provincial-specific achievements and challenges for the 7th Administration to take forward.
Dr Thabo Mabogoane from the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) expressed his gratitude to the Ministry and to the Director-General for all the achievements recorded within the basic education sector.
He expressed his satisfaction, on behalf of the Presidency, for the opportunity to always be involved in respect of education sector developments. He spoke about the 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy Review to be released by the DPME around 8 May 2024, to amplify the work that the Government has done during this administration. Basic Education achievements and milestones will also be reflected within this report.
In conclusion, MECs were presented with an opportunity to express a word of thanks towards the Minister.
“We thank you for your excellent leadership during the past few years. The strength of your leadership was demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic when we required strong direction and focus. In addition, we were continuously prompted to improve our academic performance within provinces, districts and schools.
“Under your leadership, the Ministry, as well as the leadership of the Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, and DBE officials we were continually reminded to focus on excellence,” said Mpumalanga Education MEC, Bonakele Majuba.
Western Cape MEC, David Maynier, thanked the Minister for the work done during her term: “The intergovernmental space has been collegial and very productive under your leadership and I thoroughly enjoyed working with yourself, the Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule and our colleagues within the provinces. I consider it a unique privilege and honour to have been part of improving the lives of South African children”.
INSIDE EDUCATION
