Education gives children the opportunities that they need to develop latent talents and potentials. In a speech at the launching of the National Education Collaboration Framework Trust (NECT), Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa stressed the importance of providing children with education. Deputy President Motlanthe delivered a speech during a recent NECT lunch gathering in Pretoria.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe was appointed by President Jacob Zuma to his post. Motlanthe was a former President of South Africa, serving from September 2008 to May 2009.
Much thanks to the private sector
In his speech, Motlanthe said that the contributions from the South African private sector have helped much in helping schools with inadequate resources achieve results. The support from non-governmental groups has been instrumental in improving the quality of education provided by the state. Nevertheless, the goals of the government and the private sector may be common but there needs to be a clarification of the roles required of them so that the goals are achieved. Motlanthe also thanked the private sector for their annual contribution of R3 billion which provides this regular social investment.
The NECT partnership
The National Education Collaboration Framework Trust is a partnership that was formed with the objective of fortifying the cooperation between various sectors of society. The cooperation to increase the outcomes relevant to education involves numerous businesses, labor groups and members of civil society. Their support has been very helpful in improving learning outcomes in South African schools.
The main objectives of the NECT are the following: improve the quality of education, make sure that the existing programs are appropriate to the context, and oversee national collaboration programs devoted to education.
Making a huge difference
According to Deputy President Motlanthe the collaboration of educational stakeholders with the South African government is a model that could serve other future collaborations. The NECT is s trust that fully intends to mobilize and make resources available to poor learners. When these children have the requisite support, then there are many opportunities for them to realize their potential.
The Department of Basic Education said that the NECT is not meant to take the place of other projects and initiatives intended to improve education in schools. Nevertheless, the Department still recognizes the important role of the trust in galvanizing existing programs. The Minister of the Department of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga also praised the Trust and its members for their tireless devotion. Minister Motshekga also reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure better education with its partners.
Prime movers
The business leaders that serve as founding trustees of NECT include entrepreneurs from First Rand, Business Leadership South Africa, Peninsula Technikon and Deloitte. The other trustees are Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Basic Education Director-General Bobby Soobrayan, National Professional Teachers Association of South Africa President Basil Manuel, and Deputy Secretary-General of the South African Democratic Teachers Union Nkosana Dolopi. The patrons of the NECT include President of Business Leadership South Africa, Bobby Godsell former President of the National Union of Mineworkers James Motlatsi and former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Photo Credit: Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe
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