Ministry of Education’s Vision for 2024: Fostering Educational Excellence and Collaboration

The Executive Director in the Educaton ministry, Sanet Steenkamp, recently spoke with us on the ministry’s plans for the year. Here is a transcript of our interview.

“The Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture is thrilled to announce the impending release of the NSSCO and NSSCAS part-time and full-time results by our esteemed Minister, Honourable Esther Anna Nghipondoka, scheduled for Wednesday, the 10th of January 2024.

These results will be conveniently accessible via SMS and the Ministry’s official website. Additionally, copies of the statement of results will be available at all regional offices and displayed prominently in schools, specifically for the candidates.

These results serve as a comprehensive tool to pinpoint targeted interventions necessary at every level, spanning from schools, circuits, regional offices, and the head office. Our focus on enhancing the capabilities of our teachers remains a core initiative. Continuous professional development in various subjects, including significant investment and efforts in subjects like chemistry, offers hope for improvements in the sciences.

Moving forward into 2024, our commitment to targeted intervention remains steadfast. Detailed analyses at various levels, starting at the school level, will aid us in setting specific targets for teachers across subjects. The Ministry aims to extend support through content and methodologies pertinent to these subjects, while devising robust action plans based on this assessment.

The exchange of expertise through peer coaching among teachers will remain pivotal in 2024. We acknowledge the importance of learning from one another, and the Ministry will continue investing in the continuous professional development of our educators.

In 2024, our focus also centers on finalizing the Teachers Professionalization Bill, aimed at regulating the teaching profession. Performance agreements, already in place for teachers, will further drive targeted interventions at the subject level, impacting everyone from principals to inspectors, and up to the Minister’s level.

Performance agreements emphasize the crucial role of teacher performance in the classroom, which is the cornerstone of education. Teachers mold minds and enrich lives; thus, it’s essential that for 2024, parents, teachers, and learners collectively aim for excellence.

Encouraging dialogue and constructive agreements, we envision a collaborative effort in overseeing our children’s education. I extend my heartfelt wishes for a fantastic year ahead to every parent, educator, teacher, principal, regional director, our communities, the private sector, and the entire nation. May this year be filled with boundless possibilities and opportunities that propel education to greater heights in our country.”