A R9 MILLION programme to change how rural schools are managed is set to improve the lives of 22 000 primary schoolkids in Mpumalanga.
The Penreach Courageous Leadership development programme is designed to fast-track the development of school principals and their management teams.
“As a catalyst for improving the quality of education in South Africa, Penreach in partnership with the Mpumalanga Department of Education, The Roger Federer Foundation and Performance Solutions Africa will be joining hands for the next three years to make the project a success,” said Penreach CEO Andile Ncontsa.
Ncontsa explained that the initiative plans to improve the management of schools in the Malalane and Khulangwane circuits of Ehlanzeni district.
“Education has been prioritised by the government as a critical priority for our country.
“Research has consistently indicated that there is a close correlation between the performance of school principals and that of schools.
“There are significant numbers of heads who want to improve the performance of their schools but lack the necessary skills, tools and support,” added Ncontsa.
Speaking during the recent launch, speaker of the Mpumalanga legislature, Thandi Shongwe, said: “This programme makes an important contribution to improving the management of our primary schools.
It clearly demonstrates that government, working together with civil society and the private sector, can do more to move Mpumalanga forward and respond to our development challenges.”