Gauteng Premier David Makhura says fixing the country’s education system has to start with the foundation phase.
He was speaking at the inaugural primary school summit in Randburg, north of Johannesburg, where the provincial Education Department for the first time released the performance results of all primary schools.
Watch: MEC @Lesufi addressing 1300 Primary School principals during the #GPrimarySchoolsResults announcement currently underway.
As we release these results, we say goodbye to the blame game, says the MEC. #GrowingGautengTogether pic.twitter.com/xaxvAWpCCK
— GautengGov (@GautengProvince) March 7, 2020
This is aimed at strengthening and improving the performance of all learners in primary schools.
Makhura says research shows that there are major gaps in the foundation phase of the schooling system.
This morning, Premier @David_Makhura and MEC @Lesufi will this morning release the performance of all primary schools in Gauteng. This is inline with the Premier’s commitment made during the #GPSOPA2020. #GPrimarySchoolsResults pic.twitter.com/0vPnD1qI2P
— GautengGov (@GautengProvince) March 7, 2020
He says it does not help to be the best performing province when it comes to matric results, while little attention is being paid to the lower grades.
The Premier says primary school teachers will be retrained as one of the measures of improving results.
He says if children are well taught while still young, and with the introduction of technology-related subjects, this will benefit the country in the long run.
This morning MEC @Lesufi and I are meeting with all 1300 Primary Schools in Gauteng to take forward commitments we made in #GPSOPA2020 about improving the performance of ECD and primary schools. #GrowingGautengTogether #GPrimarySchoolsResults pic.twitter.com/ng1fVm1fJ3
— David Makhura (@David_Makhura) March 7, 2020