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PRESS STATEMENT, 09 January 2019

 

NUM Eastern Cape Youth Structure Press Statement on recently announced Matric results

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Eastern Cape Youth Structure congratulates the class of 2018 on the recently announced matric results. We welcome the improvement of our province in the recent results and national standings. As the Youth Structure, we pride ourselves as we played a role in improving the results due to our continuous involvements in providing schools with equipment such as calculators and other educational materials through our "Back To School Campaign". We further wish to acknowledge the great impactful leadership of the late MEC of Education comrade Mandla Makhuphula who steered the ship under difficult storms. We take special note of the great work by teachers, SGBs, communities and other stakeholders.

"As NUM-YS we further call for active participation of the society in making sure that those who start school remains at the institution till their final year. Societal involvement will make school remain a safer place for our learners. We call for the Department of Education under the leadership of MEC Mlungisi Mvoko to do research on why those that have started their school careers are dropping off before they reach matric," said Siliziwe Nikani, NUM Eastern Cape Youth Structure Secretary.

"We call on the Department of Education to align with the Department of Health to facilitate a solid foundation for the foundation phase in all schools. The department should seek assistance in the form of occupational therapists which will assist in the development of basic and fine motor skills sequencing which will be valuable for all children. This will help them to cope with higher standards and understanding of the complex subjects during the foundation phase of their learning, which in turn could lead in producing great analytical thinkers, engineers, doctors, geologists, environmentalists, and other scarce and critical skills. This should form part of the curriculum and well managed to receive favourable results," Nikani added.

We urge learners to consider all available options for their tertiary education for them including TVET college. We urge those in power or management of the TVET to align with big businesses to make these institutions more attractive to the youth and the benefits of getting these trades and the benefits it entails in the broader economic spectrum.

We call upon all the peak performing district and schools to “LEND A HAND” in assisting those struggling. We believe 100% pass rate in the Eastern Cape is highly possible if we stand and assist each other. We hope those that didn’t make it will take lessons learned and know that they are not failures, failure comes only when you give up and for us that’s never an option, because we are the descendants of the great Steve Biko, Vuyisile Mini, Elijah Barayi, Nelson Mandela, Mama Sisulu, Mama Madikizela-Mandela, Raymond Mhlaba, Oliver Tambo and all other great leaders, it is in our DNA to be great.

We urge the government to align subjects to the evolving times and economic challenges facing our country as we face the 4th industrial revolution.

As the NUM Youth Structure in the Eastern Cape, we call for the newly elected MEC of Education comrade Mlungisi Mvoko to hold an urgent meeting with us and look on how best we can engage the mining houses with the aim of them investing to our Province education. As Eastern Cape, we remain the reservoir of labour to the mining houses in other provinces. We call on them to invest in the Eastern Cape.

For more information, please contact:

For more information, please contact:
Siliziwe Nikani: NUM Eastern Cape Youth Structure: 072 855 8474

The National Union of Mineworkers
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Tel: 011 377 2111
Cell: 083 809 3257
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