SA learners show solidarity with kidnapped girls in Nigeria

Friday, May 23, 2014

Pretoria - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga this morning joined learners across the country in signing a pledge in solidarity with the over 200 school girls kidnapped by members of militant group Boko Haram in Nigeria last month.

The Department of Basic Education had requested all schools to pledge support for the missing girls by signing the petition at a special assembly. Schools were encouraged to sign the petition, for collection by the DBE at provincial offices on 30 May.

Minister Motshekga on Friday signed her pledge along with learners of Park town Girls High school in Johannesburg.

Placards lined the fence of the school in a show of solidarity with the Nigerian learners and their families whose lives have been so adversely affected by this traumatic experience.

On April 15, 230 school girls were kidnapped from the Chibok Government Secondary School by Boko Haram in Nigeria. While a few managed to escape, most are still missing.

“This morning millions of learners signed this pledge in support of their Nigerian peers, this could have happened to any of our children and as a department we encourage all learners to support this campaign,’’ said Minister Motshekga.

The pledge affirms each signatories' commitment to join hands with all thepeople across the world and in particular, from the African continent, and defend all our gains while forging ahead to ensure that women attain those human rights where such rights are still not realised.

Motshekga said “as a nation we have triumphed in the face of adversity and shown the value of the human spirit, solidarity and that together any force can be defeated”.

“We urge learners, teachers, parents and South Africans at large to take a stand and join the Basic Education department as we say: ‘Girls Rights Are Human Rights, Bring Back Our Girls’,” she said.

A copy of the pledge can be found on the departments’ website, www.education.gov.zaSAnews.gov.za