Please note that I have moved with Minister Pandor to the Department of Science and Technology. My new email address is and please forward all correspondence for the new Minister of Home Affairs to
Many thanks
Carmen

Dear Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor

LB has sent you the following message via People's Assembly (https://www.pa.org.za/)


Dear Hon. Minister Pandor.
Congratulations to you and the RSA civil society for re
appointment in this portfolio.
I am writing because I hope i will be answered. I am a very active
citizen as the NDP challenges us. We are involved in isssues of
Rural and disadvantaged people; families and communities; for more
than 30 yrs 'unemployed'. I serve as Planning Commissioner; to say
little about my profile.Have written books abt own broader
experience. Have held interviews on SAFM etc.I was once invited to
speak at a function which you had attended.
This is to indicate that am not a negative cry baby on the issues
i wish to address with the Hon. Minister.
One of the important pillars of our organisational strategy is in
empowering youth,families; communities and schools so that they
can perform well in learning and life in general.
We would like to have an opportunity to share our pain;
frustration and offer advice on these matters: Hot one is NSFAS- a
story of a poor hard working child who after moving up and down
assisting her to get NSFAS which she highly deserved; she did not
qualify.This was after supporting her for the whole year to get to
school ; transport; find place to leave; eat etc.as her family is
2 hrs away from the Institution .The institution kept promising
to sort her out. She filled in the transport forms; got a bank
account ;end of the yr was told ; they funded her for tuition
only. It's a long story. We are about to write a book about her
sad story. The weakness of the Institution /TVET cannot be
excluded.
The SETA and registration of Community Colleges or other such
Institutions is a mess.
African Authors; your department could still do better. We are
asked to write and when we do...shame on us.

The quality of education; content and methodologies used to
lecture and assess our children at tertiary institutions is an
embarrassment. Children are not allowed to think. Those that do;
fail. The system is destroying children's future and the economy
of this country.
Is it fair for a good student to spend a whole year at varsity
repeating just one minor course.She can't work; fee paying parents
suffer. The rules and attitudes of lecturers; managers; admin. etc
at these institutions are not empowering. I am talking about
serious minded students.
What about children who cannot access their certificates cause
they owe fees. Am talking about disadvantaged families and rural
communities. How can a parent , including a single one afford
varsity fees for 2 kids. Am not referring to millionaires ;
ordinary professionals or self employed parents; with so many
competing needs and everything going up?

Improving youth and staff / lecturers/educators'behaviour and
impact on academic performance.This is one of our solutions; which
we would like to share with you.
I would have preferred to meet face to face or meet our network.
This is not a complaint but a desire to assist ; as concerned
citizens are frustrated down here. What is encouraging , is the
fact that we are doing a lot on our part; but your system fails us
big time. There is a lot I could still share. Kunzima. There are
kids who still travel long distances to a high school.
I have given my all in contributing towards making life better for
all of us at no cost. Hence will retire poor. True. The
consolation is; it was worth it. We have confidence in you.That's
the only reason one still bothers to even communicate!!
Running late. no spell check etc.


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