Education and sports ministry signs MOU to nurture sport and art in public schools. Picture: Supplied
A newly-signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and the Department of Basic Education aims to open doors to both sporting and cultural programmes in public schools.
Gayton McKenzie, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, said the agreement was a vital first step in unlocking talent and boosting transformation in both sport and the arts.
It will form a framework between the two departments to implement extracurricular programmes, including school sports programmes, throughout the country.
"The key to transforming South African sport is to ensure that as many schools as possible – from the townships to rural areas and other less fortunate communities – gain access to similar kinds of facilities, coaching and equipment.
“For too long, South Africa’s national teams have relied on private schools as talent-feeders, which, while valuable, does not represent the full potential of this country,” said McKenzie.
If all goes according to plan, the MOU will materialise in a manner where facilities are built for numerous schools to be able to share and benefit from them.
McKenzie also committed himself to Project 300, which stated that 300 South African athletes would be at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in the US in 2028.
“We won’t achieve that if we don’t keep finding the other Bayanda Walazas in our schools,” McKenzie added.
Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education, said in a video shortly after the signing that the 13.5 million pupils in South African public schools are all worthy of an opportunity to have sports available in their schools.
The POST