The Eastern Cape Department of Education held Education Stakeholders Outreach Programme at Nelson Mandela Bay Education District.

The two (2) day planned event was held at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality in Gqeberha as well as the Sarah Baartman District Municipality in Humansdorp to address all socio-economic issues and social-ills affecting the Education sector.

Giving the background and purpose of the day was the Schools Health Safety and Learner Enrichment, Acting Director Pumla Gxuluwe, she said, "The engagements follow the recent visit by the Deputy Minister in the Province as ECDoE  Provincial Office has received numerous reports from the district highlighting escalating Violence, Bullying, Corporal Punishment, Gender-Based Violence, Learner Pregnancy and increase in leaner dropout rates, which impacts negatively on learner performance."

Giving the keynote of the day was the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, she said, "This is a platform where the concept of "Education is a Societal Matter is practically demonstrated, for example the collaboration from the South African Police Services, Department of Correctional Services, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Digital and Communications, hence it is called the Inter-Provincial School Safety Intervention."

Also commenting on the event as he was giving vote of thanks, the ECDoE Curriculum Deputy Director General (DDG), Ray Tywakadi he said, "The gathering and engagements from the stakeholders and the communities was a success, therefore It is with great pleasure to see commitment on strategies to be explored on how best these Social-Ills can be addressed, there is hope, what is needed is commitment and implementations, no more talk shows."