YOUR MAJESTY, THE INDLOVUKATI
EMAKHOSIKATI,
YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES,
PRIME MINISTER,
COUNCILLORS,
CHIEFS,
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,
CHIEF JUSTICE,
CABINET MINISTERS,
EXCELLENCIES, MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS,
PRESIDING OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE SHISELWENI REGION,
THE ACADEMIC STAFF,
NON ACADEMIC STAFF,
GRADUATING STUDENTS,
STUDENTS OF THE COLLEGE,
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
SIYANIVUSELA NONKHE BEKUNENE LAPHA ENGWANE TEACHERS COLLEGE
INTRODUCTION
IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE ONCE AGAIN TO BE HERE AT NGWANE TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE TO OFFICIATE AT THE 2016 GRADUATION CEREMONY AND OPENING OF TWO NEW FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED.
WE WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS CEREMONY PARTICULARLY PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF THE GRADUATING STUDENTS. A HAND OF FRIENDSHIP IS ALSO EXTENDED TO OUR VISITORS WHO HAVE TRAVELLED FROM OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF OUR KINGDOM TO JOIN US FOR THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION.
APPLAUD THE WARM RECEPTION BY THE SHISELWENI PEOPLE.
IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME IF I DON’T THANK THE PEOPLE OF THE SHISELWENI REGION FOR THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMME THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR US SINCE WE ARRIVED IN THIS GREAT AND HISTORIC REGION.
THIS REGION HOLDS A LOT OF HISTORY FOR THE KINGDOM IN TERMS OF CULTURE, EDUCATION AND GOVERNANCE TO NAME BUT A FEW.
THE NAME NHLANGANO SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THIS REGION. INDEED IT HAS LIVED TO ITS SLOGAN “YITHI ABANTU – ISIGODI ESINAMANDLA”
THE SUPPORT ACCORDED TO IMBALI BY THE BUSINESS SECTOR WAS OVERWHELMING INDEED. THE SHOWERS WERE ALSO A BLESSING IN MANY WAYS. WE BELIEVE THE HUGE TURNOUT IN ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT WERE ORGANIZED DEMONSTRATES CLEARLY THAT, THIS REGION HAS A GREAT POTENTIAL TO ADD THE MUCH NEEDED IMPETUS TO OUR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES.
WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THE SHISELWENI REGION IS UNITED IN COMMON PURPOSE TO SEE THIS COUNTRY MOVING TOWARDS 2022. IT APPEARS EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS REGION IS COMMITTED TO PLAYING A ROLE TOWARDS ITS DEVELOPMENT.
WE WISH TO ENCOURAGE EMASWATI TO EMULATE THIS PHILOSOPHY OF WANTING TO BE COUNTED AMONGST THOSE THAT ARE COMMITTED TO NATION BUILDING.
THIS WEEK, WE ALSO MET DIFFERENT COMMUNITY STRUCTURES FROM CHIEFS TO BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE GENERAL POPULACE AT LARGE. EVEN THOUGH THE REGION IS GEARED TOWARDS OUR NATIONAL VISION THERE STILL REMAINS A PLETHORA OF CHALLENGES THAT ARE A BOTTLENECK TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT ASPIRATIONS.
OPENING OF EDUCATION REGIONAL STRUCTURE
BEFORE COMING HERE TODAY, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BLESS THE REGIONAL EDUCATION STRUCTURE THAT WILL BE USED FOR SAFE KEEPING OF EDUCATION EQUIPMENT FOR THE REGION.
YESTERDAY, THE NHLANGANO CITY COUNCIL ALSO PRESENTED TO US THE NEW TARRED BENGUNI STREET. YOU WILL ALL AGREE WITH ME THAT THE CITY OF NHLANGANO IS DEVELOPING VERY RAPIDLY.
WE ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO CARRY ON WITH THEIR GOOD WORK.
WE WERE ALSO PLEASE TO VISIT THE MONTIGNY INVESTMENT ESTABLISHMENT WHERE WE WITNESSED THE MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN RECENT TIMES IN THE COMPANY.
IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THEY PRODUCE A LOT OF GOODS FOR BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. THEY HAVE ALSO ENGAGED LOCAL PEOPLE TO PROVIDE TRUCKS TO MOVE THEIR GOODS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE KINGDOM.
QUALITY EDUCATION
IT IS ALWAYS GRATIFYING TO JOIN OUR TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS FOR GRADUATION CEREMONIES BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT OUR NATION HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE KINGDOM IS ON RECORD.
THIS CAN BE ILLUSTRATED BY THE ALLOCATION OF A LION’S SHARE OF THE NATIONAL BUDGET TO EDUCATION.
SINCE INDEPENDENCE IN 1968, GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT IN ENSURING THAT THE EDUCATION OF THE NATION RECEIVES THE ATTENTION IT DESERVED.
MORE SCHOOLS, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AS WELL AS TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN BUILT IN RECENT YEARS, BY SO DOING GOVERNMENT IS PROMOTING QUALITY EDUCATION.
WE MUST COME UP WITH STRATEGIES, RESOLUTIONS AND ACTIVE PLANS TO ENSURE THAT THROUGH QUALITY EDUCATION WE CAN DEVELOP GLOBAL CITIZENS.
THEY SHOULD BE AWARE OF THEIR INTERCONNECTION WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD, WHO WILL EMBRACE THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY, SHARE AND EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE AND PROMOTE CONTACT AMONGST NATIONS.
ROLE OF PARENTS
PARENTS ARE THE LEGITIMATE OWNERS OF THE CHILDREN IN THE COUNTRY. PARENTS HAVE, AND NEED NOT TO BE REMINDED OF THEIR ROLE.
THEY HAVE A PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXPECTED NORMS AND TRADITIONS. ANYONE WORTHY OF THE TITLE PARENT MUST:
- FEED THEIR CHILDREN
- EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN
- PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN
- BRING UP THEIR CHILDREN IN A MANNER THAT WILL MAKE THEM RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.
- PROVIDE SHELTER AND SECURITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
THE BEST WAYS TO TEACH RESPONSIBILITY IS TO DEMONSTRATE IT. PARENTS HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH GOOD MANNERS, SELF CONTROL AND RESPECT TO THEIR CHILDREN.
IT IS ON THIS BASIS THAT WE WANT TO THANK ALL PARENTS FOR THE NOBLE ROLES THEY PLAY IN THE UPBRINGING OF THE CHILDREN OF THE NATION.
STUDENTS
THE LEARNERS MUST KNOW THAT THERE IS A TIME FOR SCHOOL WORK AND TIME TO PLAY. THIS IS BECAUSE ULTIMATE SUCCESS FOR EDUCATION MUST COME FROM THE LEARNERS.
TO BE SUCCESSFUL, LEARNERS HAVE TO INVEST IN THEIR TIME AND EFFORT INTO THEIR OWN EDUCATION. DOING WELL IN SCHOOL IS A MUST FOR ALL CHILDREN WHO HOPE TO GROW INTO PRODUCTIVE, INTELLIGENT CITIZENS.
GRADUATION
TODAY IS GRADUATION DAY FOR 224 GRADUANDS IN THE PRIMARY TEACHERS DIPLOMA AND 81 GRADUANDS FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE EDUCATION.
GRADUATION IS AN OUTCOME AND PRODUCT OF DETERMINATION AND HARD WORK. WE CONGRATULATE ALL THOSE WHO ARE GRADUATING TODAY. WE SAY WELL DONE FOR YOUR EFFORTS HAVE PAID UP. TODAY YOU STAND AT THE THRESHOLD OF SUCCESS DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY.
USE YOUR NEWLY GAINED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO HELP DEVELOP THE YOUTHS OF THE NATION. WHERE EVER YOU ARE POSTED DO YOUR UTMOST BEST TO MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD INTO THE REALIZATION OF VISION 2022.
THE BALL IS NOW IN YOUR COURT. GO AND SHINE AND MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELVES BY DISPLAYING GOOD WORKS WHICH YOU WILL BE PROUD OF AND BE REMEMBERED.
ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH, WE THANK AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT YOUR GOT FROM ALL THE COLLEGE STAFF BOTH ACADEMIC AND NON ACADEMIC. WE ALSO THANK YOUR PARENTS AND FRIENDS WHO MORALLY SUPPORTED YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR STUDIES.
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE EDUCATION.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT TODAY IS A HISTORIC DAY BECAUSE WE WILL WITNESS, FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, THE GRADUATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE EDUCATION TEACHERS IN THE COUNTRY FROM A GOVERNMENT OWNED TRAINING INSTITUTION.
THIS GIVES HOPE THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM SHALL BE BUILT UPON A STRONG FOUNDATION. SISWATI SAKITSI SITSI UMTSENTSE UHLABA USAMILA.
TRULY, BY TAKING CARE OF THIS LEVEL OF EDUCATION, WE HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR AN EFFECTIVE, RESPONSIVE EDUCATION THAT WILL LEAD TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATION.
COST FOR NEW INFRASTRUCTURE: TWO HALLS E7 MILLION AND THE CLASSROOMS E2.8 MILLION
NGWANE COLLEGE CONTINUES TO GROW IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS. IT IS PLEASING TO NOTE THAT AS THEY PREPARE TO UPGRADE THE COLLEGE TO A HIGHER STATUS, THEY HAVE A VERY CLEAR STRATEGIC PLAN OR A ROADMAP TO FOLLOW.
THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS IS AMAZING. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT, THE HALLS AND THE CLASSROOMS ARE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND ADD VALUE TO THE INSTITUTION AS A WHOLE.
IT IS ALSO PLEASING TO NOTE THAT THE TWO STRUCTURES WERE BUILT BY COMPANIES FOR EMASWATI. DUKAI CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTED THE TWO HALLS AND TOUCH HYGIEN BUILT THE CLASSROOM BLOCKS.
THESE WERE DONE WITHIN 7 MONTHS – WE CONGRATULATE THE CONTRACTORS AND DESIGNERS FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
WE URGE ALL THOSE WHO WILL BE USING THESE FACILITIES TO KEEP THEM IN GOOD SHAPE SO THAT THOSE THAT WILL ENROLL TO THE COLLEGE IN FUTURE WILL FIND THEM IN GOOD SHAPE.
CONCLUSION
FINALLY, WE ENCOURAGE THE COLLEGE TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR GOOD WORK OF PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS WILL ONLY BE REALIZED IF THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
OUR TRADITIONAL WAY OF DIALOGING IS THE ONLY METHOD TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT IN THE COLLEGE. WE DISCOURAGE THE UNCONVENTIONAL WAY OF ADDRESSING DIFFERENCES IN ALL OUR EDUCATION FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
WE THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED AND DEDICATED THEMSELVES IN THE PREPARATIONS OF TODAY’S EVENT IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS DAY A GREAT SUCCESS. WE HAVE ENJOYED ALL THE PERFORMANCES THAT WERE RENDERED HERE TODAY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE TETFULO THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US.
DECLARATION
IT IS NOW MY SINGULAR PLEASURE TO DECLARE THAT THE TWO NEW HALLS AND FOUR CLASSROOMS ARE OFFICIALLY OPENED UNDER MY HAND ON THIS 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2016.
I THANK YOU - MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS US ALL.