The North West Department of Education is the first to successfully host the democratically elected 2023 Representative Council of Learners (RCL) elections this past Saturday, April 22, at Sparkling Waters Hotel in Rustenburg. The election process, which started at the school level to elect the representative council, ended up with the election of the provincial structure for learners.
The purpose of the RCL is to allow the student body to participate in activities that concern the learners directly or indirectly in the school's functioning and to instil in them a sense of responsibility, encourage school loyalty and respect for authority, to prepare them for their adult lives.
Each district was represented by its five executive members. There was an opportunity for the members to elect the provincial structure amongst themselves under strict measures set by the NW Department of Education. The 2023 RCL provincial committee members are: (1) Ontshireleditse Mochikwane from J.M. Ntsime Secondary School in Mogwase was elected President, (2) Ntokozo Mlungwana from Bethel High School was elected Deputy President, (3) Paballo Sebopelo from Mmabatho High School was elected as Secretary, (4) Mohau Mphanya from Coligny Secondary was elected as Deputy Secretary while Thato Ngwenya from HTS Klerksdorp was elected as the Public Relations Officer.
The Education MEC, Viola Motsumi, congratulated the elected Provincial RCL members.” On behalf of the Department, I take this time to congratulate the new RCL Committee and wish them the best of luck in office. They have outdone themselves in reaching this level of leadership. As a department, we do not only focus on producing academics only for the labour market, but we identify the potential of individual learners in other aspects, such as leadership. Our country shouldn't run short of leaders," stated Motsumi.
The MEC added that the Department would train these RCL members and that the Provincial Representative Council of Learners would act as the recognized communication channel between learners, teachers, parents, and the Department.
