Health • Rural Development • Employment • Safety & Security • Youth Matters • Sport Vuk’uzenzele Brought to you by Government Communications (GCIS) September 2013 Agulhas takes Eldorado Park the difficulty takes the war out of learning to drug dealers > P 4 > P 6 Education for all Albert Pule the charter will bring inspectors back to monitor schools, enforce a dress code for teachers and make it difficult for both The dawn of democracy has current and former state employees to do business with the government. made it possible for more Minister Motshekga expresses confidence that the charter will raise the “conscience of learners to attend school the few rotten apples” in the education sec- tor because the majority of teachers are com- and spend more time in the mitted to their job and they love children. “I think it will enhance the work that we classroom than ever before. are doing and strengthen the hands of those teachers who have been doing well and per- outh Africa has made progress in haps to even help us as a nation to begin to improving the state of education. appreciate them more.” Basic Education Minister Angie SMotshekga says government has CURRICULUM CHANGE made progress in making education accessi- In 2009, the department implemented a ble to the majority of South African children. new curriculum. “We have strengthened Minister Motshekga attributes the progress the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) to the efforts put in place by the Department through the development of the Curriculum of Basic Education. Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS).” These efforts include improving the cur- The department set a review committee riculum, introducing sign language, provid- made up of curriculum experts, academ- ing feeding schemes and scholar transport, ics, researchers, teachers and officials who introducing the Annual National Assess- conducted an independent review of the old Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga outlines various measures taken by ment (ANA), broadening Early Childhood curriculum. The committee recommended government to improve the quality of education. Development (ECD), supporting technical that the curriculum be changed. schools, and publishing norms and stand- The minister adds that when her term ends General Household Survey 2002 – 2011, with technical skills. This has prompted ards. next year, the new curriculum will be fully children enrolled for ECD increased from the department to establish a task team to The department, in partnership with the implemented, and this will be for her “a 7 per cent in 2002 to 34.5 per cent in 2011. look at ways of attracting learners to the British Council, is now set to tighten the rewarding experience”. The minister says there are changes in the area of technical studies. teaching of English as a First Additional ECD area as the Council of Education Min- The enrolment figures at these schools Language. It will also beef up the teaching EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOP- isters (CEM) has adopted a new curriculum have declined since 2007. “The technical of African languages at schools. MENT for ECD. “It is a seamless curriculum in line high school sector is under severe pres- The number of children receiving childhood with the objectives of the National Develop- sure to attract learners. The enrolment IMPLEMENTING THE PUBLIC education has been fluctuating in recent ment Plan (NDP),” she adds. figures in 2007 were at 119 000 and, it now SERVICE CHARTER years and according to the minister, the stands at 45 000”. Now that government and trade unions in country has passed the stage of counting SUPPORT TO TECHNICAL Minister Motshekga says the decline wor- the Public Sector have signed the Public numbers within ECD to focus more on SCHOOLS ries her. “It’s an indictment that we have Sector Charter, the productivity of teachers quality. Minister Motshekga expresses concern that Continued on page 2 looks set to improve. Among other things, According to Statistics South Africa, the country does not have enough people new things. the fun and sheer wonder of a South African At the official launch of Tourism Month at holiday.” Putting the fun back into tourism Amazingwe Lodge in the North West recently, Tourism Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, Conserving OUR Water said excellent tourist arrivals in 2012 had made The biggest tourist attraction for the country Samona Murugan n support of this year’s World Tourism Day South Africa an exceptional global destination, is our unique and vast land and water re- theme ‘Tourism and Water - Protecting our and had fast tracked the country to reach its sources. The Department of Tourism says our September marks Tour- common future’, the department has called target of becoming one of the 20 top destina- environment and climate is the major draw Ion South Africans to learn about water, trav- tions in the world by 2020. card for people visiting the country. However, ism Month in South el, and the tourism industry at large, under the In the past year alone, almost 9.1 million with tourism booming, the country’s water South African theme, ‘Water is fun’. international tourists visited our shores, and shortage will directly influence and change Africa, and this year the In line with Tourism Month, the department 12.5 million South Africans took 25.4 million the tourism market. together with South African Tourism has trips and spent an average of four nights away This has prompted the Department of Water Department of Tourism launched a new domestic tourism campaign from home per trip. Domestic Tourism in 2012 Affairs to spread awareness about water called ‘Nothing’s More Fun than a Sho’t Left.’ also contributed more than R100 million to the conservation, especially in the North West, invites South Africans to It encourages more South Africans to go on country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). which is the driest province in our water holiday and explore their country, even for a Minister Van Schalkwyk said Tourism Month scarce country. become a nation of fun- night or two. It also urges locals to make great 2013 would herald a new era for domestic tour- In an attempt to remedy the shortage in the memories, spend quality time with loved ones, ism in South Africa. “It’s an era in which the seekers. and to experience new places, new people and whole nation will get out there and experience Continued on page 2 Vuk’uzenzeleVuk’uzenzele is is FREE . but. but please please pass pass it on it whenon when you you are aredone done 2 Vuk’uzenzele September 2013 RuralTOUR IDevelopmentSM AND HERITAGE MONTH A month to celebrate our rich heritage Continued from page 1 huge projects such as Medupi and we have to import boilers while we have this huge unemployment rate in the country. I think it’s a problem that our system has not been preparing our kids adequately and for our needs as a country.” She says the task team has already presented draft CAPS for Civil Technol- ogy, Electrical Technology and Mechanical Technology. “These subjects will be supported by tech- nical mathematics, technical science and the current engineering graphics and design” she concluded. ACCESS TO EDUCATION Liliesleaf farm. The Cradle of Humankind. On her schooling days, Minister Motshekga says she recalls how the whole of Katlehong Albert Pule pungubwe National Park, at the convergence heritage site. had one school and access to education of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers. It touches Speaking at the 50th commemoration of the was dependent on when you apply. “The September is a month to the northern border of South Africa, Zimbabwe Liliesleaf Farm raid by the apartheid police government could not be bothered where and Botswana. President Jacob Zuma said preserving the site the kids studied” she adds. reflect on and celebrate South This is a site that was populated by a civilized would contribute to the on-going process of “Some of us who lived through apartheid kingdom over 900 years back. Settlements, ar- national healing and the building of a more knew that access was through a first come Africa’s heritage resources. tefacts and graves of these communities can be cohesive society. first serve basis and if there no space there seen at the site. It also has a national park where During the commemoration, President Zuma is no space.” t is Heritage Month, a time to go out and various bird and animal species, including four said it’s our joint responsibility to tell the story She adds that despite the progress gov- enjoy music events, dress up in traditional of the Big 5, roam freely. of the farm. “We all have a responsibility to en- ernment has made in making education outfits, attend theatrical performances and For more information contact Mapungubwe: sure that the story of Liliesleaf and the Rivonia more accessible, it remains under constant Iappreciate South Africa’s rich cultural and (015) 534 7923/24 Trial is told in full for the benefit of current and pressure to meet the demands of a growing natural heritage. future generations and that to ensure that the population. This year, the Department of Arts and Cul- VREDEFORT DOME ideas born on this farm live forever”. “This access has put so much pressure ture has come up with the theme: “Reclaim- Vredefort Dome was declared a heritage site in on government to build lots of schools and ing, restoring and celebrating our heritage” 2005. Some two billion years ago a meteorite Heritage MONTH 2013 churn out lots of teachers. People who didn’t to encourage South Africans to protect and 10 kilometres in diameter hit the earth about According to the Department of Arts and Cul- grow up under apartheid don’t know what celebrate their heritage.