Alex education forum yields results
ALEXANDRA – Education forum dents Alex's teaching and learning challenges.
The Alexandra Education Stakeholders’ Forum’s strategy of unity in action is seemingly improving the environment of learning and teaching in the township.
This is according to Godfrey Tsotetsi, ANC member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for Alexandra Constituency. Tsotetsi said this in reference to a plethora of challenges said to impede the 13 primary and six secondary schools from achieving their full potential. “Most of the self-made problems include class disruptions, ill-discipline, alcohol and drug abuse and peddling in school premises, bullying, gangsterism, truancy, absenteeism, late coming and threating of teachers.
“Unity in action implies a united front of all stakeholders acting proactively to address challenges before they can disrupt learning,” he said in reference to forum members responding to problems when they still simmer.
The members include the constituency office, school governing bodies and schools management, students body, trade unions, councillors, civic body, police and police forum, taxi association, business and tavern owners representatives.”
He said all of them played a role resulting in no notable disruptions reported in local schools last year. He attributed last year’s improved matric pass rate in all secondary schools partly to this intervention while also conceding that more was still to be done. “Truancy, late coming and absenteeism still need attention through parents applying discipline to their children from a young age to invoke the adage, it takes a village to raise a child. Also, gangsterism needs more intense measures and involvement of the security cluster extending into the community.”
Tsotetsi added that the unions, principals and the Joburg East District office also committed to releasing teachers for meetings only after school. “Late night noise from taverns is receiving attention through dialogue with the owners’ organisation in order to have a balance between their profit motives and children’s education.”
This said in addition to the proximity of some of the outlets to schools also receiving attention including by higher authorities.
He urged for the inclusion in the forum, of charity organisations that will assist poor children with food parcels for weekend home consumption to assist them to gather energy to do their homework and for their physical and mental health.
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