The MEC for Social Development Mr. Alvin Botes embarked on a three schools visitation, as part of governments Back-To-School Campaign, which is meant to encourage and motivate learners, educators and parents as they steady themselves to negotiate the academic year ahead. We understand as a government this exercise is especially important in that it shows how much we care, that we are indeed concerned about what is happening at our schools and that we want to see both the teachers and learners succeed.

The first day of school is filled with excitement and great hope for many of our young children, more so those who are beginning in Grade 1, as this is their very first experience of school. Our main purpose as government with these visits is to offer and pledge our support to the teachers and learners, and foster partnerships with parents to encourage and motivate them to on their past achievements. We want to see a situation whereby they all work together in ensuring that our children succeed in attaining the best possible results and setting the highest standards.

A part from encouraging our children to pursue education and make it their foremost priority to finish school, the MEC also handed out School Uniform Vouchers to 183 under privileged kids identified by the schools (Beacon, Greenpoint and Du Toitspan Primary Schools). The vouchers are R 300 each meaning that we have invested R 54 900 in our grade one learners in order to ensure that they have school uniforms.

Our simple hope and wish was that parents be there so that this be a collective effort from the very first day, as we all appreciate that the other expectation is that we are all responsible for not only the wellbeing of our children as parents, but their academic success as well.

Most of the schools we have identified are based in your previously disadvantaged communities and continue to experience socio economic challenges. Based on our own community research most of the parents of the kids at these schools are unemployed and mainly live off social grants, but that does not stop the passion that these children have for education, so it becomes important that we be in the forefront of encouraging them to reach for their dreams.

Ideally, for early development to make a difference there should be a joint effort between parents, the community and the government – a healthy, educated population makes for a healthy, sustainable economy. Children from disadvantaged environments often end up in a tragic cycle – a lack of stimulation or good nutrition leads to poor school performance, which ultimately means as adults they end up in unskilled jobs, earning bottom wage.

The Department of Social Development wants to ensure that children at primary school are given the best start in life by being well cared for, protected, supported and provided with early learning development. Therefore as a Department, we are at the centre of building a caring society that meets the needs and aspirations of its entire people. In fact, everything in the service of government is social development in action.

We understand that these schools continue to attain an average of over 90% pass rate every year, despite the challenges that exist. We know that some of the children are hugely affected by the habits of their parents, and that the only meal at times would be provided for at school through the School Nutritional Scheme, as their mothers will be too under the influence of alcohol to even prepare food for them. We ran a number of programs together with the community leaders in Colville, Greenpoint and Beaconsfield so we clearly understand that there are serious challenges of:

* Alcohol Abuse
* Teenage Pregnancy
* FAS
* Drug Abuse
* Domestic Violence

Whilst we also on the same breath appreciate that not all the children are from these particular areas, but some of these social ills are cross cutting, and that it becomes important that we protect our jewels. We would like to further appeal to everyone who might know of someone in dire need of assistance with school uniform to not hesitate, but approach our offices as we might be in a position to assist.

Please feel free to call Media Liaison Officer in the office of the MEC Social Development, Tebogo Mokae for any further information and clarity you might require, @ 082 719 1142.