The Gauteng Education Department on Thursday 19 September celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG). This institution, established in 2003, was set up to provide in-service teacher training and development of the provinces principals and school managers.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Ms Barbara Creecy said the school is the only one of its kind in the country and has been central to Gauteng’s school improvement programme.
“In the ten years since the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG) was established it has played an ever more significant role in helping teachers, principals and school governors improve schools in townships and informal settlements,” said the MEC.
“In a context of curriculum change, complex educational managerial environments and the quest for greater parental involvement, the Department has been able to tailor in service development programmes to our own context and needs, “Creecy said.
In recognition of teachers’ role and contribution to learning and teaching, GDE developed and adopted the Teacher Development Strategy which focuses on influencing tertiary institutions in their approach to pre-service training; developing in service programmes; assisting educators to set up communities of practice to share materials and effective teaching methods and re-developing teacher development centres.
Since the establishment of the school a total of almost half a million education practitioners have benefited from programmes offered by the institution. This includes 125 896 educators; a quarter of a million parents; and 39 030 school governors. In addition the school has trained 1392 middle managers and offered the Advanced Certificate in education to 2553 school managers.
“The Gauteng Department of Education stated that the prime purpose of establishing MGSLG was ‘to give effect to the transformation of education in Gauteng through the improvement of school management and governance skills… From the example of the programmes undertaken and taking into account the sheer volume of target numbers, one may deduce that MGSLG has fulfilled its role as spelt out by the GDE ten years ago,” said Neeshan Balton, Chairperson of the MGSLG Board.
Messages of congratulation and support have been received by numerous stakeholders including organised labour, School Governing Body Associations and Principals Associations.
Daya Chetty the president of South African Principal’s Association in Gauteng described the organisation as “one of the most important centres of development, training and support that GDE initiated in 2003.
It laid the platform for the GDE to establish support structures for schools, SGB’s, teachers and management especially principals, to ensure that quality teaching and learning became a priority in our province.”
NAPTOSA Gauteng Chairperson, Tinus du Preez said they would like to extend their support to all the initiatives currently undertaken by MGSLG.
“In extending our support we would also like to ensure MGSLG of our members’ support for all the programmes currently offered. We are looking forward to a collaborative partnership between NAPTOSA and MGSLG to capacitate our educators to deliver quality education for all.”
Governors’ Alliance’s Matthew Scott- Wilson congratulated MGSLG and thanked the school on demystifying the space called governance and what it means to be a governor.
“Together with Matthew Goniwe recognized SGB Associations such Governors Alliance can improve the quality of teaching and learning for all learners in our schools.”