Deputy Minister Mhaule officially opened the 2024 National Schools Moot Court Programme (NSMCP) at the University of Pretoria in the Gauteng Province on 26 September 2024. The initiative was established through a partnership between the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the University of Pretoria on 21 March 2011, to create greater awareness in schools and communities about the Constitution and the values that it embodies through active participation.

The NSMCP was also initiated to encourage young people to consider pursuing a career in law at institutions of higher learning. The programme provides a unique opportunity for learners to develop research, reading, writing and oral skills in their arguments at various levels of the competition. During the official opening, the Deputy Minister was joined by the Deputy Dean of the Law Faculty, Prof Charles Maimela, SAHRC representatives, law experts, parents and various education stakeholders.

According to the DBE, the programme contributes to the human rights education agenda of the basic education sector through the support of various partners with key interest in human rights promotion in school communities. The human rights education agenda aims to instil the South African constitutional values and principles, which are embedded in the Supreme Law of our country. It also aims to expose learners to the United Nations’ Convention on Human Rights and War Against Humanity, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In his welcome address, Prof Maimela said that the programme makes an impact in advocating human rights within communities, targeting the youth. “Your participation in this competition will enable you to explore career options in law. I would like to thank the DBE and partners for their consistent contribution towards making the programme a success during the past years to date”.

Addressing participants and delegates during the official opening, Deputy Minister Mhaule indicated that the participation of the learners does not end with the National Schools Moot Court: “We encourage those who emerge as winners at the finals to participate at the International Schools Moot Court, which takes place biannually under the leadership of the Centre for Justice and the International Court of Justice. In three consecutive years, in 2016, 2018 and 2020, South African learners became reigning champions at the International Schools Moot Court. To ensure consistency of participation in the International Schools Moot Court beyond these national rounds, the National Steering Committee of the NSMCP, which is co-led by myself as Deputy Minister for Basic Education, the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Education Rights Commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission, approved the recommendation for Grade 11 learners to be excused from participating in the National Schools Moot Court going forward. Participation will now be drawn from learners in Grades 9 and 10 to allow those who might be in Grade 12 the following year when they would have won in Grade 11 and avoid disruption of National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. The Problem Statement that you will be arguing this year will focus on Access to Technology. This includes the provision of technological devices such as computers, Wi-Fi, digital learning tools and other communication and technological services. This focus is particularly exciting for us as the sector, especially in view of the improvements we have introduced to e-Learning, Digital Learning and Technological Sciences. I am looking forward to hearing the constitutional arguments from learners, especially given the link of this topic to the imminent Three Stream Model of Curriculum. I wish you all the best as you will be presenting your arguments in various court rooms,” Deputy Minister Mhaule concluded.