Minister Maynier kicks off Listening and Learning Programme

Today I take office as the Western Cape Minister of Education.

I have immense respect for the principals, teachers, practitioners, and officials that make up the education sector. They have achieved so much during a very difficult period, and I want to make sure that we improve on the strong foundation that they have built and take it forward.

It is important to listen, to learn, and to be open to new ideas that will help deliver quality education to students, and so I will be embarking on a programme of listening and learning with stakeholders both inside and outside the Education Department in the Western Cape.

I will be engaging with staff in public schools, independent schools, special needs schools, Early Childhood Development centres, our Head Office and District Offices, unions, School Governing Body associations, public representatives, public interest groups, and other important stakeholders in the sector.

I will also seek to bring business closer to education, so that the outcomes we achieve are aligned with the needs of our economy.

During my Listening and Learning Programme, I have three key questions for our stakeholders: what works, what needs improvement, and what recommendations do you have for improving the quality of education our students receive?

The purpose of this programme is to develop a set of priorities and to set a new direction to better prepare students for the world of work in the Western Cape.

We must ensure that our students receive the best quality education we can possibly achieve, and I look forward to our stakeholders’ support as we move forward.