​The Gauteng Social Development, MEC Morakane Mosupyoe was deployed in the Kagiso area, West Rand Region to partake in the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) school reopening activities this year.
Education has been declared the number one priority by the provincial government. Government understands the importance of education in human development and as such the GPG remains committed to ensuring that effective learning and teaching takes place in all schools in the province on the first day of the new academic year and in all schooling days.

Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a great risk and caused anxiety among parents, learners, educators, and authorities. That is why the health and safety of all teachers, learners, and all staff in schools is important, and as such, the GPG has ensured that all schools have COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure everyone’s safety.

In total, the Department of Social Development ensured 2682 dignity packs were delivered to schools enlisted to benefit on the 1st day of school in 2022. This is part of the Department of Social Development’s ongoing dignity program in schools to ensure learners’ academic programmes are not disrupted by sanitary and hygiene needs.

The MEC for Social Development visited Mosupatsela Secondary School, Boipelo Secondary School, and Tswelopele Educare (ECD). In her visits, the MEC stated, “In the year 2021 as Social Development we officially launched the School Social Work Programme because it had become increasingly clear over the years that the need for school social work services within the education system is essential in dismantling all social issues such as violence, crime, teenage pregnancies, and other social ills found within the schooling system.’’

The MEC further stated, “Through the signing of the MOU the Department of Social Development and Education established effective working relations to ensure that schools receive psychosocial support to improve conditions of learning, address social, emotional, and behavioral barriers to learning that impede learners’ functioning and development.” The MEC encouraged learners and teachers to make use of these services to ensure success in their academics and to protect their futures.

Furthermore, the MEC encouraged teachers to speak and educate learners about the disadvantages of teenage pregnancies and emphasized that teachers can educate learners without victimizing or ridiculing them to create a safe environment for learners to speak about these issues.

The MEC further emphasized that to ensure that teenage pregnancies are eradicated both the boy child and girl child must be educated equally on the topic.

The Principal at Masupatsela Secondary, Mr. Bennet Phatsoane stated, “Our school is honored and privileged to have the MEC for Social Development visit it, firstly seeing leaders of the MECs calibre will encourage our learners and also boast our school’s tradition of having produced some leaders in Gauteng Province that became MECs and the current Ward Councillor and as Mosupatsela Secondary we can proudly boast because the Gauteng Provincial Government provides sufficient support.”

The MEC concluded her visits at Tswelopele Educare (ECD), where she handed over educational toys and reminded the ECD of the shift from Social Development and Education in the bid to improve the quality of education.