The National Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Ms. Maggie Sotyu paid a special visit to !XhunKwesa Combined School at Platfontein on Friday, 16 March 2018. The Minister donated essential school items such as uniforms, shoes, stationery, books, bags and sports kit to over 200 underprivileged learners from Grade 7 as part of government’s Back to School campaign. The national campaign was officially launched on Friday, 09 March 2018 at Smithfield in the Free State.
The Deputy Minister officially hoisted the National flag at the school as part of the Department of Arts and Culture’s "Flag in Every School Campaign”. The campaign seeks amongst others to promote national identity, nation building and social cohesion and instil the spirit of patriotism.
Prior to handing over donations, the Deputy Minister popularized national symbols, preamble of the Constitution and promoted the correct etiquette for singing of both the South African National and African Union anthems. In return the school learners sang, recited poems and danced for their visitors. The school and police choirs took part in the singing of national anthem. The Back-to-School campaign seeks to ensure that even those learners from disadvantaged backgrounds are afforded an equal opportunity for being the best students they can be.
During her address the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture Ms. Maggie Sotyu expressed her department's passion towards education “We at the Department of Arts and Culture are passionate about contributing towards education and building closer relationships with our communities. This we do to ensure that we enable access and opportunities for learners and improve educational facilities throughout South Africa to build a strong, flourishing, knowledge-based economy.”
The Deputy Minister added that government will continue to invest in expanding access to quality basic education and improving the outcomes of public schools. "Education is vital for people to take their rightful place in society.” “The Back-to-School campaign seeks to ensure that even those learners from disadvantaged backgrounds have an equal chance at being the best student they can be.”
Meanwhile Mr. Mpho Mosweu from Sol Plaatje Municipality says his institution is proud to be associated with such campaigns “Education is one of our key corporate social responsibility focus areas and we are delighted to partner with government to ensure that all learners are able to focus on their studies rather than on school resources."
!Xunkhwesa Combined School is a public combined school located at Platfontein outside Kimberley. It offers underprivileged children from the Khoisan community unpaid schooling with nutrition programme.
The school principal Mr. Nicholas Snaders appreciated the department's efforts in aiding the learners "Our pupils are from poverty-stricken areas where the unemployment rate is high and these resources provided by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will go a long way in offering them a quality educational experience.”