OR Tambo School of Leadership, the political education school initiated by the African National Congress, is celebrating its first year of operation whilst observing lockdown conditions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In its first year of operation the school’s achievements include: –
• Developed six of its thirteen strategic modules on Political Economy, Critical Thinking, Africa in the Global Economy, South African History and ANC History. These are designed in a manner that will ensure they can be accredited and will also each require a 60% pass for completion. Rollout of these modules had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Offered a free online political education course for any member of the public interested. This course covers four modules which are History of South Africa and the ANC, Building the ANC Organisation, Government and Economic Development.
• Conducted induction workshops for all public representatives of the ANC in national and provincial parliaments.
• Ran monthly workshops on topics such as nation-building, 4th Industrial Revolution and Developmental State for ANC Members of Parliament.
• Selected and trained facilitators nationwide who will roll out the school’s Mass Political Education programme. This is an ANC branch and regional levels focused programme that entails rollout of induction courses, conducting study circles, supporting drafting of programmes, running political education sessions and support for registration and completion of online political education modules.
• Produced theme-based Umrabulo journals (quarterly) and convened Umrabulo Dialogues. These journals and their related dialogues provides political education material on relevant and topical issues.
• Established a board comprising eminent persons knowledgeable and respected across the education, socio-political and economic sectors. This board is chaired by former President Kgalema Motlanthe.
“Over the past year we have been particularly encouraged by how efforts of OR Tambo School of Leadership has been warmly embraced across the ANC and in the broader public” excitedly explains the Principal, David Masondo. “The success of the school is also integrally linked to the overall ANC renewal agenda which is intended to benefit both the movement and society. And it is this understanding which has energised us at all times to ensure OR Tambo School succeeds in its mission”.
As with all other institutions, the school had to develop a fit for purpose plan that is aligned to different phases aimed at containing the impact of the spread of Covid-19. This has included encouraging members of the public to enrol for the school’s free online political education courses available on www.ortamboschool.org.za/online-courses whilst working from home.
Since this call is also aligned to the school’s celebration of its first year since launch, the book “My Journey To Robben Island “by Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo was offered to the first 20 students able to enrol and complete their online political education course. Recipients of the book are: –
• Matsobane Ledwaba
• Nomvula Mbatha
• Tshepo Matenche
• Beauty Mbokazi
• Sefora Masia
• Velaphi Kenneth Khoza
• Mhleli Magutywa
• Bethuel Mlambo
• Humbulani Patrica Mulovhedzi
• Karabo Semenya
• Beauty Ntombikayise Matanda
• Simphiwe Ncama
• Fumani Mokoseni
• Luthando Lovington Juju
• Jerry Nkuna
• Sizwe Mazibuko
• Thami Simon Mjandana
• Mcebisi Madiba
• Gabrial Shabangu
• Ndumiso Jim
“We still encourage many more to take up the opportunity to enrol for the free political education course available at www.ortamboschool.org.za/online-courses whilst working from home. The lockdown period also provides one with an opportunity to invest in their development through attainment of knowledge and skills that will ultimately ensure they have an enhanced understanding of how the world works” explains Masondo. “Completion of the online course will also be an added advantage for ANC members selected as councillors in the upcoming local government elections”.
The online courses are a compulsory introductory base to OR Tambo School’s 13 modules and will be an advantageous skill and knowledge for ANC members interested in occupying leadership positions.
Another jollity aligned to celebration of year one is virtual Umrabulo Dialogue sessions that will take place from this week until the end of June 2020. Led by a range of prominent speakers, these 60-minutes sessions will cover topics such as “A Developmental State and Post-COVID Economic Recovery”, “Building a Developmental State in Local Government Sphere” and ”Balance of Forces in a Covid-19 World”.
The main speaker of the initial session titled “Prospects of a Development State” will be Principal of OR Tambo School and ANC NEC member, David Masondo. This interactive session is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 24 May 2020 from 14h00 and 15h00 and can be accessed through OR Tambo School’s Facebook page.
ENDS/
Issued by the OR Tambo School of Leadership
For comment and any other enquiries please contact:
• JP Louw on 066 056 0911 or e-mail jplouw@thero.co.za;
OR alternatively
• Siphokazi Mbolo on 078 786 4709 or e-mail siphokazim@ortamboschool.org.za
