Some 80 learners from schools in previously disadvantaged and impoverished areas in the Western Cape will attend the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools’ learner summit in Cape Town on Saturday (27 February 2016). All these learners are members of school governing bodies.

“The Schools’ Act stipulates that there should be learner representation on a school governing body. The aim of the summit is to make these learners aware of their role and function as members of the governing body, but also in a broader context in terms of the leadership role they play in their school,” says Dr Jaco Deacon, Deputy CEO of FEDSAS. Deacon says while most of the 40 schools invited to the summit are members of FEDSAS, a number of other schools were also invited. “Interest in the summit was overwhelming. Although we cannot accommodate all the schools that what wanted to attend it is a clear indication of the need for training of this nature,” says Deacon.

The presenter is the innovative leadership expert Manie Botha. Botha is well-known for his work with high school learners and young people. “Manie has a unique ability to make complicated concepts and abstract ideas understandable in a manner that captures younger people’s attention. He is ideally suited to assist these young members of governing bodies to understand what is expected of them and to inspire them at the same time,” says Deacon.
 
Other speakers include Paul Colditz, CEO of FEDSAS, Cheryl Allen of the Western Cape Education Department, as well as the author Heindrich Wyngaard. Singer Nadine Blom will entertain the learners.

The summit takes place in the Council Chambers of the City of Cape Town, with the City of Cape Town also acting as sponsor.