The energy in the air was that of joy and pure excitement for the learners and teachers of Kgatoentle Secondary School in Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria, as they sang in their school hall.
It’s back to school and the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs. Angie Motshekga, as well as Gauteng MEC for education, Mr. Matome Chiloane and other officials from the Premier’s office, visited the school for the official opening of the 2024 academic year.
The school achieved a 100% pass rate for their 2023 matric results.
Chiloane congratulated them for this achievement and said they ought to be proud of being a good performing township school.
“Our township schools in our province have become our backbone of success. That is why when we speak of township schools, we speak with pride because they have demonstrated over time that with the quality of educators, results have come,” MEC Chiloane said.
Minister Motshekga also shared words of encouragement with the learners, saying they should focus on their studies.
“All we ask of you is respect, humility and hard work. We say this because of how important you are as young people. Government spends the highest on education because of how important you are. You are important to yourselves, your families and to us because you are our future. This country will be run by you, this economy will be run by you. Let us focus on the right things. You will never regret education,” she said.
After the address, the Minister and MEC were taken on a walk-about by the school’s principal to see the school’s facilities.