The second National Conference on Care and Support for Teaching and Learning took place between 24 and 26 November 2021.
The theme of the conference was reimagining care and support, taking stock, education recovery and continuity.
The conference has been described as one of the programmes which enable concerted efforts to ensure vulnerable learners are protected.
Dr Regina Mahale, the Basic Education Deputy Minister, attended the conference where she appealed for partnerships with NGOs in order to reach the most vulnerable learners and make schools environments that provide care and support for all.
Mahale thanks all partners who are working with the DBE to ensure when learners are at school that they are in a safe and nurturing environment.
The DBE believes that by getting more partners on board, they may be able to monitor learners even when they are at home to ensure that they are receiving the best care.
“We appreciate this conference and we are looking forward to the outcomes of this conference and we believe that it will attract more partners,” said Mahale.
The DBE Deputy Minister announced that the Care and Support in Teaching and Learning Programme is very important, however, as the government, they are unable to enforce it on their own which is why they are calling upon partners in the private sector for assistance.
Mahale urges for partnership with the private sector because with their help the programme will be able to help the most vulnerable children receive care and support.