Education Minister Hails Catholic Centre

by Jael SC · August 30, 2018

Higher education minister Naledi Pandor with Sr Colleen Simpson at the Good Shepherd Community Learning Centre.

By Fr Paul Tatu CSS – The minister of Higher Education hailed the Good Shepherd Community Learning Centre, run by the Good Shepherd Sisters, during a visit to the facility in Madidi, North West Province.

Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria welcomed minister Naledi Pandor, stressing the importance and impact of basic skills in our society.

He told the minister that while the centre is Catholic, “it is for everybody. The people who are here are from different faiths. They are all very welcome here. Our task as the Catholic Church is to enrich humanity and give people an opportunity.”

Ms Pandor in her address praised Sr Colleen Simpson and the centre staff for putting up excellent programmes.

She was intrigued that the youngest student at the centre is 16 years old and the oldest student is 85. This, she said, is exactly what a community centre should do.

She said she was particularly happy to see so many young people taking charge of their lives, and encouraged them to be committed to their mission.

“If we can develop effective community education and training programmes we will be able to fight poverty, inequality and exclusion, which are a very huge set of challenges for our country”.

Noting that there are 9 million people who have never had education at all, Ms Pandor said: “I believe that well-structured, well-supported community education and training centres are the answer to this problem.”

Ms Pandor pledged that her ministry will work closely with the centre to ensure that the programmes are accredited.