Education serves as the strongest foundation towards the nation's dignity, identity and sustainable development.
It's against this background that the Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has reaffirmed that every child has the right to quality education.
In a New Academic Year message, Steenkamp said the ministry's guiding principle for this year remains the common belief that true innovation begins in the early years of a child's development.
"The ministry remains dedicated to the Ending Learning Poverty campaign, focusing on the crucial goal of ensuring that every child can read and understand a text by age 10 and also carry out basic numeracy tasks. We extend our deepest appreciation to the various stakeholders who make this ecosystem possible."
The ministry has committed to replacing makeshift structures with permanent classrooms and hostels and to expanding digital literacy through a new digital learning hub and expanded ICT resources.
Steenkamp reminded educators that they are the most treasured resources inside their classrooms, appealing to teachers to approach their work with the required level of dedication, preparedness and professionalism.
"To our learners and school attendees, you cannot begin to imagine how much we care for your well-being, and we call upon you to be disciplined, focused, and ready to learn from day one, respecting your teachers, peers, and the school rules while also ensuring pure hard work, commitment, and integrity and not by shortcuts. Please do not complicate your lives with wrong decisions and actions, and refrain from bullying others while looking out for each other."
Guardians were urged to continue supporting learners and their teachers to ensure that quality education is achieved.
Steenkamp cautioned guardians to always follow the correct processes of admission.
"Ethical conduct and transparency are non-negotiable, and all learners and students must meet academic and procedural requirements; therefore, admissions must be documented, merit-based and fair, and gifts, bribes or any unfair influence are strictly prohibited."
The minister also extended her appreciation to the different levels of education leadership for consistently providing guidance, urging them to lead with integrity, fairness and purpose.