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Ceremonial greetings

It is an honour for me to be afforded the opportunity to address this important and historic occasion. I wish to welcome you all to Thaba Nchu and to extend a warm welcome to those of you who are from across the borders of our wonderful Province the Free State. I sincerely hope that your stay so far has been a pleasant and an enjoyable experience.

We are gathered here at this occasion to celebrate the reunion of former students of this distinguished educational institution. Moroka High School has a very rich and dynamic historical background, from being a missionary and teacher training institution in the 1930s to its current status as a high school.

The founding of this institution was a culmination of dedication, commitment and sacrifice by two visionaries, namely Chief WZ Fenyang and Dr J Moroka. Their endeavours to ensure the existence of an educational institution in this area were characterised by hardships and an uncooperative bureaucracy. In the end, though, their diplomacy and perseverance coupled with the involvement of the Methodist Church resulted in the establishment of the Moroka Missionary Institution in 1937.

During the apartheid era our education system was characterised by disparities and deficiencies brought about by the Bantu Education Act. The enactment of this Act in 1953 stipulated that black people should not become qualified for positions not envisaged for them, this policy was thus designed to protect the interests of the white minority. The Act also prompted a racially and culturally segregated and differentiated education system. The disproportionate distribution of resources made it difficult for us to acquire a decent education.

Ladies and Gentlemen, despite these and various other Challenges, Africans were not deterred from pursuing their quest for formal education. Missionary institutions played a crucial role in educating disadvantaged black people in South Africa from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The list of distinguished exponents produced by these institutions is endless, from political and religious leaders to educationist and intellectuals, these people and others like them have helped shape the destiny of our beloved country.

Moroka High School has contributed its share in producing top South African achievers in all walks of life. People such as the late Reverend Seane and other alumni are but some of the people who rose to the occasion and utilised their education efficiently for the benefit of our communities.

It is a known fact that our country is currently facing numerous challenges that are an impediment to the development of the lives of all our people. Economic development, job creation, poverty alleviation, the fight against HIV/AIDS and an improved literacy rate are some of the top priorities on our government's agenda.

It is encouraging, however, to note that the Department of Education is engaged in programmes aimed at restructuring our education system. The right to education is deeply entrenched in our Constitution; the South African Schools Act also asserts that all children have a right to access basic and quality education, without any form of discrimination. This indicates that we are on the right path towards redressing the educational imbalances of the past

As I mentioned earlier the history of this establishment is fascinating as it resonates with our pursuit of educational excellence. Moroka High has a wonderful Alma Marta "First things first" my interpretation of this motto is that education comes first. This school has undergone many changes and faced numerous obstacles since its inception. And yet its essence has stood firm.

It is imperative therefore, for both past and present students of this institution to explore ways in which the wonderful legacy of this school might influence the future. You need to determine how the cohort of current students will uphold the principles on which the school was founded. As role models you have to communicate the importance of education to our youth. We have to join force in order to reduce the high illiteracy rate facing our country today; we owe it to our young people.

I wish to commend the all learners who successfully graduated from this school; I also pay homage to all educators who throughout the years remained dedicated towards the education of learners at this institution.

To the organisers, thank you for this magnificent and well-planned occasion.

May the deliberation that will arise from your discussions here today contribute towards the continued development of Moroka High School.

KHOTSO! PULA NALA!

Source: Free State Provincial Government (http://mangaung.ofs.gov.za)