Siviwe Gwarube reflects on school sport MOU progress

The MOU was put in place almost two years ago.

Speaking at the launch of the Pitso Mosimane Youth Football (PMYF) coaching manual, where she was one of the guests, Gwarube says the MOU has had its success stories but also pointed out what could be improved, especially in the no-fee schools, where this kind of assistance from the PMYF is needed the most.

"So, the MOU, between the Department of Sports, Arts & Culture has been really instrumental because for too long the relationship between DBE and Arts & Culture has been rather a loose one,” Gwarube said. 

“So, for the first time in two years we codefined who is responsible for exactly what, where funding comes from particularly for school sports, and what is the responsibility of the Department of Basic Education. 

“But what has really been heartwarming for me is looking at particularly the programmes we've supported. 100s of programmes of sporting activities that we've supported in various provinces. 

“However, I would like us to go a little bit further, particularly when it comes to formalising the work that teachers do in terms of coaching learners because of course these are just merely educators who take on the responsibility because they are passionate and they are passionate about young people. 

“At some point, we need to have a conversation as a country as to how do we cultivate the coaching element and this is why I think contributions such as this book are so important because it's not just about having young people and having teachers running around the field but you are equipping the teacher with something tangible that says this is how you get the results that you need."

In the past, one of the biggest challenges public schools in the townships and rural areas have had is the lack of resources and infrastructure for school sport.

Also, as Gwarube says, the lack of formalized and funded coaching for school teams living it in the hands of teachers who have to double up with the academic work they have to carry out.

Unions have also complained about this in the past and have also held back on committing to school sports projects.

"Often what you find is that it's often teachers who take on the initiative who are passionate about the sport who would go on and basically do the coaching. But you see the reason why supporting programmes like this and supporting manuals like this are so important is because the real beneficiaries of that passion by teachers are teachers who are teaching in no fee schools,” she indeed. 

“Your far more affluent schools are able to get those coaches that are hired by SGB's. What coach Pitso has done here is contribute really to the body of work that no fee schools can be able to tap into. Of course one day what we'd really like is we would really like to see separate coaches in our schools being really able to start to contribute to the sport."