As part of celebrating International Nelson Mandela Day, Basic Education Deputy Minister, Mr Enver Surty, officially handed over a library and resource centre, donated by Hyundai and Imperial Trust to the Eldorado Community in Lenasia on 18 July 2018.
The hand-over ceremony at Heerengracht Primary School will benefit many children who are in need of a library to explore the world through books. The partnership between the DBE, Hyundai and Imperial Trust has contributed to more than 35 libraries in public schools and is aiming to deliver a target of 70 libraries during 2018.
The contribution made through partnerships with the education sector plays a crucial role in improving quality learning and teaching. The provision of libraries to public schools is one of the most critical undertakings to change the landscape of education in both the General Education and Training and Further Education and Training bands. The DBE, through its Read to Lead Campaign, has delivered more than 6,000 libraries to various school communities across all nine provinces with a common goal of promoting a reading revolution in South Africa.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Deputy Minister Surty said that, “A reader is not only a brilliant leader but a good speaker. Learners must utilise libraries to learn more about the history of South Africa and understand the struggle their leaders undertook to liberate the continent. We have to promote history to build a strong nation. Madiba stood for human dignity, equality and freedom. Our task is to take the struggle forward to build a non-racial, non-sexist nation that embraces humanity. Unless we are able to respect people of different colour, we will not be able to achieve social cohesion in this country”.
Deputy Minister Surty also touched on the Fourth Industrial Revolution: “The DBE has digitised approximately 80% of textbooks for high enrolment subjects such as Mathematics, Physical Science and Accounting. Through collaboration we can do more. Government, the business sector, civil society and faith-based organisations must come on-board to help Government in improving quality education in South Africa. I urge all learners irrespective of colour, race, religion and culture to participate in extracurricular activities such as the National Schools Moot Court Competition, the ABC Motsepe South African School Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE), the Spelling Bee and Reading Club Programme and the Youth Citizens Action Programme (Y-CAP) to unite in diversity”.