29 March 2000
The Executive President of SAICA, Mr Ignatius Sehoole
The Vice-chairman, Mr John Clulow
The Vice-president of ABASA, Mr Qangule
Distinguished Academics
Honoured Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
I have been told that gathered here today is a wide range of people from various academic institutions from around the country, senior managers from accounting and auditing firms, educators, members of the CA profession and many others.
I am truly honoured to be here.
I have been working now for a great number of years in various countries. I must, confess, however that all those years put together did not expose me to as broad a range of audiences as I have had to address since my appointment as Minister of Education in June last year.
It has been a very busy time for me and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have enjoyed the challenges that have been presented to me personally, as Minister of Education, as well as the challenges presented to my Department in relation to education in this country.
I have been heard to say on occasion that there are two issues that everybody in this country has an opinion on water and education. And I have had the dubious honour of being put at the helm of both the government departments dealing with these issues. It was this experience that led me, on 27 July last year, to challenge all South Africans when I published my Ministry's Call to Action document. I decided that while it was fine to have opinions on these issues, it was time for South Africans to act on their opinions, and to act collectively. In my Call to Action I issued a challenge to all South Africans to become a part of the building of an education and training system for the 21st century.
The response has been humbling. South Africans of all colours and creeds are rising to the occasion in different and creative ways.
Today I am here at the invitation of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, to be part of the launch of a Teacher Enrichment Programme. There is no doubt that teachers constitute a key driver in our efforts to build a winning nation and I thank you for not only recognising that fact, but also doing something about it. Teachers are a key component in our drive for Human Resource Development in this country.
However, before I say anything further on teachers, I would like you to indulge me for just a moment to talk about SAICA, the organisation. I have read with interest the documentation sent to me in regard to both SAICA and the project being launched here today.
Within the ranks of the educated and the elite in this country, the mere mention that a person is a CA a chartered accountant raises that person's status in our eyes inestimably. It is a great achievement. And for this group of professionals whose own status in society is not under threat, it is quite extraordinary to go out of its way to establish an Equity Development Department in the organisation that is not only inward looking and focusing on the transformation of its profession, but one that is outward looking as well.
I have been truly impressed by how you have defined your role as a truly South African professional organisation and also your meticulousness in ensuring that your objectives are realised. I only wish this country had more professional bodies like this one, which comprises professionals aware not just of their rights in this country, but also of their responsibilities to this country.
That you have set out to increase the number of black Chartered Accountants in the country as well as the number of female CAs shows your complete understanding and appreciation of this country's broad agenda. I have noted that you have met your targets set in 1999 and exceeded them. Congratulations!
The Teacher Enrichment Programme that you have embarked on again shows your connectedness to and understanding of educational challenges facing us in this country. You have wisely decided to target not only the improvement in the quality of our teachers in the key areas of Mathematics, Accountancy and Guidance, but also the improvement of Grade 12 results. It is indeed important that even as we seek to invest in long-term quality improvements in the system, we show immediate improvement in the performance of our learners in Grade 12 to restore public confidence in our education system.
This is not a challenge for the Ministry of Education. It is not a challenge for Minister Asmal. It is a challenge for South Africa.
In the Ministry of Education we are working under the banner of TIRISANO a Setswana word meaning 'working together'. Collaboration such as is demonstrated by this partnership between SAICA and the University of Stellenbosch is precisely what we are challenging the country to do, for an improved quality of life in this country. We are hoping that we will see more of these partnerships to address the numerous challenges that face us including HIV/AIDS and the inordinately high level of illiteracy.
You have invited me to comment on my Ministry's view of your conceptualisation and implementation of the project. I do not think it is appropriate for me to do that. You have already demonstrated your ability to lead by example. Let us as Government take our cue from you. It is important that, within the framework of challenges that we have shared with you we should allow you to come up with creative solutions to inform government processes. We take seriously our commitment to working jointly with the rest of the country to improve the quality of our education system.
A lot has been said and written about the lack of conceptual knowledge in our teachers, their lack of confidence and the low teacher morale. These issues cannot be separated from one another. They are all inherently connected. They feed one another.
Permit me to comment on just one aspect of your programme, namely giving a voice to the teachers. It is important to me that your programme will allow teachers to influence the direction the programme will take even as you say you seek to build their capacity. Teachers know what challenges they are faced with and it is important that our teachers be treated with dignity.
Our history is well known and we dare not continue to make our teachers feel that they are responsible for the lack of skills characterising the system today. We need to begin to instil in our teachers a sense of confidence. We need to build their self-esteem. Teachers need to know that the future of this country in their hands and that we have confidence in their ability to turn things around with the right tools. Let us give them those tools.
In the TIRISANO Implementation Plan we focus quite strongly on Teacher Development. We are determined that this country will be able to boast about its high-quality, dedicated and caring team of educators the next five years. We are setting in place systems and programmes that will address both issues of quality and professionalism in our teaching corps. We are proud that you will be walking alongside us as we embark on this journey.
In the next five years we will work vigorously to uplift the unqualified and under-qualified teachers. We will work on the improvement of the quality of teaching in the traditionally problematic subjects such as you yourselves have identified. We will strengthen our teachers' preparedness to deal with the challenges of outcomes-based education (OBE) and we will ensure that our teachers will know that we expect the best from them, because we know that they can deliver the best. In pursuing these ideals we will not hesitate to act where we feel that our teachers have failed or are failing to act professionally. At the same time we will acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the profession.
When I took over this portfolio, I publicly announced my intention to recognise excellence in teaching through annual National Teacher Awards. These will be given out this year on 5 October World Teachers' Day. I look forward to seeing many of you on that occasion.
Let me conclude by saying that there are many challenges facing this country, which extend beyond the education system. Poverty alleviation, urban renewal and integrated rural development these are some of our concerns in this government. As you expand your programme, you will need to think seriously about these issues. We need your assistance.
I look forward to a continued association with SAICA, to share both successes and challenges, and to explore possible areas for collaboration.
Nangamso.