Dr MJ Maboya MEC Education- Free State

29/08/2026

Last night, 28 August 2026, I had the distinct honour of joining educators, school leaders, partners and stakeholders at the Free State Provincial National Teaching Awards 2026 held at Imvelo Safari Lodge in Bloemfontein, where we celebrated the remarkable men and women who dedicate their lives to shaping the future of our province and our country.

As we recognised excellence across various categories of teaching and school leadership, I was reminded that teaching is not simply a profession; it is the foundation upon which every other profession stands. Behind every doctor, engineer, entrepreneur, scientist, artisan, lawyer and public servant, there is a teacher who first helped them discover their potential.

In my congratulatory remarks, I reflected on an important African truth: "Before we build a better society, we must first develop the minds capable of imagining and creating it."

This is why the work of our teachers matters so profoundly. Every day, they expand consciousness, develop intellectual capacity and inspire young minds to believe that their future can be greater than their present.

I was equally moved to remind our finalists and winners that: "Your greatest award may not be the trophy you receive tonight. Your greatest award is the learner whose confidence you restored."

Congratulations to all our finalists and winners. You represent the very best of the Free State teaching profession. Your commitment, resilience, innovation and dedication continue to illuminate the path for thousands of learners across our province.

To every teacher in the Free State, whether recognised on the stage or serving quietly in a classroom today, please know this: your work matters, your commitment matters, and the lives you touch matter. Together, let us continue to pursue excellence, strengthen our schools and build an education system worthy of the dreams of our children.

03/08/2026

03/08/2026

Today in Kroonstad, I had the privilege of leading the release of the Grade 12 Second Term Results for the Class of 2026 — a moment of reflection, honesty, and renewed commitment.

As I engaged with the results, I was reminded that: “There is a remarkable difference between measuring progress and understanding progress. A clock tells us how much time has passed; a compass tells us whether we are moving in the right direction.”

These results are not merely numbers captured on paper — they are a compass. They tell us whether we are moving closer to the future we seek to build, and whether our collective efforts are yielding the impact our learners deserve.

We have seen encouraging signs of progress and inspiring examples of excellence. Yet we must also confront a simple truth: “Great achievements have never been the result of low expectations.” Our aspirations remain clear — to reach a 95% pass rate and a 55% Bachelor pass rate — and we must pursue them with discipline, urgency, and unwavering focus.

The second term is not the destination; it is a strategic checkpoint. It calls on all of us to act decisively — because “the purpose of these results is not merely to tell us where we are, but where we must go next.”

I am inspired by the powerful reminder that excellence is not reserved for a few. It is built through commitment, leadership, effective teaching, discipline, and above all, belief. When we believe that excellence is possible, we begin to make it a reality.

To the Class of 2026: every test, every assignment, every moment of preparation from here onwards matters. Your future is not something that will arrive by chance — it is something you will build through hard work and determination.

As a province, we must now move from analysis to action, from observation to intervention, and from potential to performance.

Education remains the most powerful instrument we have to transform lives and build a capable, ethical, and prosperous society. Behind every result stands a future leader — and together, we must ensure that every learner is given the opportunity to succeed.

Let us work together to ensure that excellence is not an exception, but a standard across every school in the Free State.

18/07/2026

Yesterday was a deeply meaningful and humbling day as I joined communities in Moqhaka Municipality to honour the legacy of former President Nelson Mandela through acts of service and community engagement.

I had the privilege of leading the Free State Department of Education's Nelson Mandela Month Commemoration Programme at Little Saints Creche in Rammulotsi, Viljoenskroon, where we translated Madiba's values of compassion, service and social justice into practical action. Guided by this year's Mandela Day theme, "It's Still in Our Hands to Combat Poverty and Inequality," we dedicated our time, resources and efforts towards improving the learning environment of young children who represent the future of our province and our country.

Together with officials, stakeholders and community members, we painted classrooms and facilities, cleaned the centre, and handed over much-needed resources, including mattresses, tables, chairs and other learning support materials. These may seem like simple interventions, but they carry a profound message: every child matters, every child deserves dignity, and every child deserves an opportunity to learn and develop in a safe and nurturing environment.

As I interacted with the children, practitioners and parents, I was reminded of Madiba's timeless words: "There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."

Those words continue to challenge us to place children at the centre of development and to ensure that no child is left behind, regardless of their circumstances.

Later in the day, I had the honour of joining the Executive Mayor of Moqhaka Local Municipality, Cllr Ramasimong Tau, at a Mandela Day programme focused on confronting the growing challenge of substance abuse in our communities. During my keynote address, I emphasised that drug and substance abuse remain among the greatest threats facing our young people today. They rob learners of their potential, destroy families and undermine the future we are working so hard to build.

The fight against drugs cannot be won by government alone. It requires a united front involving parents, educators, faith-based organisations, community leaders, law enforcement agencies and young people themselves. We must continue to create environments where our children choose books over drugs, classrooms over crime, and purpose over hopelessness.

What made yesterday particularly significant was the powerful connection between the two programmes. In the morning, we invested in the foundation of a child's development through Early Childhood Development. In the afternoon, we confronted one of the social challenges that threatens that very future. Together, these interventions reminded us that building a better society requires us to support our children at every stage of their lives.

Nelson Mandela taught us that true leadership is found in service to others. The greatest tribute we can pay to his legacy is not through words alone, but through meaningful action that changes lives, restores dignity and creates hope.

As the Free State Department of Education, we remain committed to strengthening Early Childhood Development, protecting our learners from social ills, and building communities where every child is cared for, supported and given the opportunity to realise their full potential.
Madiba's legacy lives on whenever we choose service over self-interest, hope over despair, and action over indifference.

15/07/2026

Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting with parents, traditional leaders, community stakeholders, educators and education partners at Makholokoeng Community Hall in Harrismith to discuss matters affecting learners of Morena Letlatsa Secondary School. I am deeply encouraged by the overwhelming attendance and active participation of parents. The success of the meeting reaffirmed my belief that when communities come together around education, there is no challenge that cannot be overcome.

As government, we understand that the concerns raised by parents regarding the delays affecting the full operation of Morena Letlatsa Secondary School are genuine and deserve our full attention. I appreciated the opportunity to engage openly, listen carefully and provide a clear update on the progress being made to resolve outstanding issues relating to infrastructure, electricity and water supply.

During the engagement, I reminded parents that education is a shared responsibility. As I said in my address: "Ngwana ha se wa mmae, ke wa motse."
This timeless Basotho wisdom reminds us that raising and educating a child requires the collective effort of parents, educators, communities and government. I was particularly inspired by the spirit of unity displayed by the people of Makholokoeng. Parents did not merely attend the meeting; they actively contributed ideas, asked important questions and demonstrated their commitment to the future of their children. This level of involvement is exactly what we need as we work together to strengthen education in our province.

The Free State Department of Education remains committed to ensuring that every learner has access to quality education in a safe and conducive learning environment. We are working tirelessly to ensure that Morena Letlatsa Secondary School fulfils its original vision of becoming a centre of excellence that will produce future doctors, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs and leaders from this community.

I also want to express my sincere gratitude to Morena Paulos Moloi, the Makholokoe Royal House, the leadership of Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality, school leadership and all stakeholders who joined hands with us in finding solutions. As I concluded in my speech, "Kopano ke matla." Indeed, unity is strength. When government, parents, traditional leaders, educators and communities work together, we create the conditions necessary for our children to succeed.
The future of Makholokoeng is in our classrooms. The future of the Free State is in the hands of our learners. Together, we will continue to protect, support and advance the cause of education for every child.

Free State Provincial Government

25/06/2026

👌🏾👌🏾

25/06/2026

Today, I visited Tsebo Ulwazi Secondary School in Namahadi, Frankfort, to officially hand over the project to the replacement contractor, Rea Le Tamisa Trading, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to complete this long-awaited and transformational school infrastructure project.

This handover is a demonstration of a government that listens, cares and takes responsibility. When the previous contractor failed to perform and deliver on contractual obligations, we took the difficult but necessary decision to terminate the contract. As government, we have a duty not only to invest public resources wisely, but also to hold service providers accountable when they fail our communities and, most importantly, our children.

Today, we are turning a new page. We are reaffirming our commitment to ensuring that every learner has access to quality infrastructure that supports teaching, learning and excellence.

Tsebo Ulwazi Secondary School is not an ordinary project. It is a state-of-the-art institution designed to provide learners with access to quality education in an environment that inspires achievement and innovation. As a school offering technical subjects, it occupies a strategic position in developing the practical skills, technical expertise and future workforce required by our economy. Once completed, it will stand as a beacon of opportunity for the young people of Namahadi, Frankfort and surrounding communities.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the community of Namahadi and Frankfort for the manner in which they have protected this facility during a difficult period when construction had stalled. Despite the delays and understandable frustrations, the infrastructure has not been subjected to widespread vandalism or destruction. This demonstrates a community that understands the value of education and recognises that this investment belongs to its children.

As construction resumes, I appeal to the community to continue safeguarding this facility. Let us protect it from vandalism, theft and any acts that may delay its completion. This school belongs to the people of Namahadi. It belongs to the learners who will walk its corridors, develop their talents and build their futures within its classrooms.

As I said today, “We are not merely restarting a construction project; we are restoring hope, renewing confidence and reaffirming our commitment to the future of our children. Delay does not mean defeat. Together, we will ensure that this project is completed and that our learners receive the environment they deserve to succeed.”

I thank the community, parents, educators, learners, traditional leaders, municipal leadership and all stakeholders for their patience, resilience and unwavering support. Working together, we will complete this project and leave behind a lasting legacy of quality education, dignity and opportunity for generations to come.

* * Free State Provincial Government Free State dept of education

22/06/2026

📍📍

19/06/2026

Today I had the privilege of attending the Unisa Bloemfontein Graduation Ceremony at the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State, PACOFS. Graduations are one of the most sacred traditions of any university – a moment when families, lecturers and the whole community come together to honour academic success.

It was also special to bump into Northern Cape MEC for Education, Mr A. Vosloo, and the Unisa Vice Principal for Teaching and Learning, Mr A. Tshivhase. Great to share this moment with fellow champions of education.

To every Unisa graduate: your hard work, discipline and resilience have brought you here. Distance learning demands extra sacrifice, and you proved that it is possible. You are proof that education opens doors and changes lives.

As Education, we are truly inspired by your achievement. You now join a community of lifelong learners who will now go out and serve, lead and build our province.

Congratulations, class of June 2026. The Free State Provincial Government is proud of you.

13/06/2026

Today, I had the privilege of joining and delivering a keynote address at the Winter Campaign in Matjhabeng, where 1 300 pairs of school shoes were handed over to deserving learners from 19 schools across Matjhabeng and Masilonyana.

As we observe Youth Month and reflect on the legacy of June 16, this initiative carries a significance far greater than the shoes themselves. Fifty years after the heroic sacrifices of the youth of 1976, we are reminded that the struggle for educational freedom was never only about access to classrooms; it was about dignity, equality and the right of every child to realise their full potential.

What moved me most during this programme was the reminder that educational success is influenced not only by what happens inside a classroom, but also by the conditions under which learners live. A child who lacks basic necessities often carries invisible burdens into the classroom—burdens that affect confidence, self-esteem, participation and ultimately academic performance. We sometimes underestimate the profound psychological impact that poverty can have on a young mind. Something as simple as a pair of school shoes can restore a learner's sense of belonging, dignity and confidence. When a child feels valued and included, they are more likely to participate fully, attend school consistently and believe in their own potential to succeed.

The realities facing many families in Matjhabeng and Masilonyana remind us why such interventions matter. In communities where unemployment and economic hardship continue to affect households, every effort to remove barriers to learning becomes an investment in the future of our province. Education remains the most powerful instrument for breaking cycles of poverty and creating opportunities for social and economic advancement.

I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to the team for their unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of our learners, and to Minister Zhou Maoyi and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China for their generosity and partnership. Your support demonstrates that when government, civil society and international partners work together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and strengthen the foundations upon which future generations will build.

Together, we are not merely handing over school shoes; we are restoring dignity, nurturing confidence and investing in the limitless potential of our children.


Free State Provincial Government Free State dept of education