Launch of the National Education Collaboration Trust

The National Education Collaboration Trust, a business /civil society initiative supported by the Department of Basic Education, was launched on 16 July 2013 at the Presidential Guesthouse, Pretoria.

At the National Education Leadership Dialogue held in December 2012, consensus was reached on the need to develop an Education Collaboration Framework (ECF) with the aim of assisting the Department of Basic Education to improve education in South Africa. Godwin Khosa, JET's CEO, played a central role in the conceptualisation of the framework and its implementing structure, the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT).

Under the leadership of interim chairperson, Sizwe Nxasana, and interim secretary, Godwin Khosa, and with the support of the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, the National Education Collaboration Trust was launched at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on July 16 2013. The Minister of Basic Education addressed the gathering and the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe delivered the keynote address.

The launch was preceded by a business briefing attended by some of South Africa’s most influential businessmen and businesswomen. The keynote address at the briefing was delivered by Cyril Ramaphosa who reminded the audience of previous successful joint initiatives to improve education, such as the Joint Education Trust, JET’s precursor. Mr Ramaphosa pointed out that funding of the Joint Education Trust by 14 companies to the tune of R500 million, estimated at over R2 billion in today’s terms, provides a benchmark for funding the NECT today.