District education department applies to change name
'People will relate to this as it honours our King who played a pivotal role in the history of this land'
TO end confusion surrounding the name of the district, the uThungulu Department of Education has made submissions to the KZN MEC for Education, Mthandeni Dlungwana, to rename the local department.
This was confirmed by District Director David Chonco, who said the move was inspired by the name change of the uThungulu District Municipality to King Cetshwayo District Municipality.
‘We are guided by the policy that education district offices should be linked to municipalities. We started as the Empangeni Regional Office, but that name was changed to the uThungulu District Office to be in line with the uThungulu District Municipality.
‘We are awaiting the response from MEC Dlungwana to allow us to officially change the name to King Cetshwayo as well.
‘People will relate to this as it honours our King who played a pivotal role in the history of this land.’
Chonco said it was imperative that pupils learn about the history of their traditional leaders.
‘King Cetshwayo kaMpande was the King of the Zulu Kingdom from 1872 to 1879, and its leader during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.
‘Our children need to know that King Cetshwayo was the last great ruler of Zululand, who was captured by the British following his defeat in the British-Zulu War, and was subsequently sent into exile,’ he said.
Asked about calls to make history a compulsory subject in school, Chonco said a commission was working on the matter at national level.
‘My personal view is that there is nothing wrong with history being taught at school as it inculcates a high level of patriotism. When i visited China recently i was amazed to see children as young as three years old being taught about their history, culture and even their flag.
Chonco said the district had a rich history and proud heritage.
‘Apart from King Cetshwayo, we also have Nandi’s grave (King Shaka’s mother) in uMlalazi.
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