NYAKALLO TEFU|

Teacher unions across the country have welcomed the closure of schools from Wednesday 30 June 2021.

President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement on Sunday evening during his address on the government’s efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Educators Union of South Africa (EUSA) Spokesperson Kabelo Mahlobongwane said the union is happy and delighted by the president’s decision to close down schools in light of the increasing cases of Covid-19.

Just last week, Mahlobongwane called on teachers to withdraw their labour out of concern for their wellbeing and that of their learners.

Mahlobongwane accused Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga of consulting with certain favoured organisations and stakeholders regarding the decision to keep schools open.

At the time, Mahlobngwane said this move clearly shows that the lives of teachers and learners are not taken seriously by the minister, her department and the stakeholders she consulted.

READ: BREAKING: Schools to shut down from Wednesday

Speaking to Inside Education on Monday, Mahlobongwane said EUSA welcomed the decision, “especially considering that we were the only union that called for the closure of schools and the prioritisation of lives.

“Other unions, together with the minister [of basic education] were adamant that learners must continue going to schools, regardless of the deaths and number of cases,” said Mahlobongwane.

In his address, Ramaphosa said the country will be moving to alert level 4 as the number of Covid-19 cases rise in South Africa.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa reported 15 036 new cases and 122 deaths in the last 24 hours alone.

The institute said Gauteng remains the epicentre of the Covid-19 infections having recorded 9 858 new cases.

According to reports, the Covid-19 Delta variant is the most prevalent variant in the country.

Ramaphosa said the Delta variant has now been detected in five of our provinces, namely the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and Western Cape. Adding that this particular variant has been dubbed the superior variant as it spreads faster.

Initially schools were set to close on 9 July 2021.  However, Ramaphosa said the closure of schools and other educational institutions will be brought forward for the winter holidays.

READ: Union calls for educators not to go to work for two days

The South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (Sadtu) spokesperson, Mugwena Maluleke, said they are happy with the decision made by the president.

“We have always been very clear that we must be influenced by science and that is what the President said, the decision to close schools was based on science,” said Maluleke.

Maluleke said this will give schools a chance to have a formidable robust tracking and tracing system because it is important for the school community to trace those who may have been affected.

The National Professional Teachers Organization of South Africa’s (Naptosa) Basil Manuel said they were consulted about this decision ahead of time and are happy with the decision taken.

“It didn’t come as a surprise. We met during the week, and we met again on Sunday night at 18:00, we support the call to close but there are issues we are unhappy with,” said Manuel.

“Firstly, we need the schools to be cleaned properly while learners are away by people employed to do that, not just sanitising.

“Secondly the return date, we want learners to reopen on the 26th of July and not 21 July as per the school calendar because,” said Manuel.

He added that the set date of the returning of learners does not sit right with them.

Maluleke said the early reopening of schools will be informed by science, and that it will give learners time to catch up on the work they have not completed by the time schools close.

“We have always said that the pandemic is unpredictable and the numbers that are rising suggest that education from time to time is going to be disrupted,” said Maluleke.

NALEDI SHOTA|

Provincial departments of education have in recently outlined their plans and what they will be prioritising in this financial year through budget vote speeches. 

This week, Inside Education brings you some of the highlights that came out of the budget votes by MECs of education.  

Part two looks at Gauteng, the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

Gauteng 

The Gauteng department of education has a budget of R53,4-billion for the 2021/22 financial year. 

In his speech MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi said one of his department’s priority in this financial year is to increase learner enrolment in technical high schools, and as such the department has approved applications to offer  technical subjects and technical fields of specialisation to several schools. 

Lesufi said the department will introduce nine specialisation subjects in the technology pathway and those subjects include: construction, woodworking, digital systems, power systems, electronics, fitting and machining, welding and metal work. 

In this financial year, Lesufi said the department is looking to add 400 refurbished Smart Classrooms, where it will roll out smart technologies to township high schools.

He added that the province was on track in eradicating asbestos schools in the province having demolished four last year. 

Northern Cape 

The Northern Cape department of education received a budget allocation of R7.14 billion. 

MEC for Education Zolile Monakeli said the department has allocated R14 million for about 32 000 learners who will be conditionally, partially or fully exempted from paying school fees.

The learners come from 119 schools out of 138 fee paying schools that applied for compensation for fee exemptions.

Monakeli said the department had set aside R17.56 million to support the Class of 2021 through a matric intervention and turnaround strategy. The strategy includes Saturday classes. 

He also said the department was in the process of finalising the learner transport tender for the province.

The process would be completed before the end of the financial year and will secure a safe and reliable learner transport for the Department at a cost of R168.49 million, he said.

“This is significant as this is one of the mechanisms through which we secure general and universal access to education. The Department is currently transporting 24 559 learners to their respective schools with various modes of transport,” he said.

Monakeli said the department has set aside R633.3 million for the maintenance of and renovation of 49 schools. 

KwaZulu-Natal 

MEC Kwazi Mshengu presented a budget allocation of R 53.184 billion.

Mshengu said the department had commissioned a feasibility study to explore the establishment of schools of mining and arts in the province. This is as part of the department’s programme on specialised schools, he said.

“KwaZulu-Natal is endowed with unmatched talent which most of it remains unprofitable because of the lack of support and nurturing of this talent. 

“Equally, extraction and exporting raw mineral resources is counter-productive as it amounts to exporting jobs. The failure to beneficiate on the mineral resources is an anomaly that must be confronted urgently – hence the need for a School of Mining.  The final decision will be informed by the outcomes of the feasibility studies,” said Mshengu. 

Mshengu also said the department has from this year piloted the occupational stream at 10 mainstream schools in the province. This is in response to the introduction of the three-stream model introduced by the department of basic education where the focus is on academic, technical-vocational and occupational streams.  

“The focus for the occupational stream is on low-intensity occupational skills which individuals can master to start small-scale businesses and to assist them to earn a living straight from school,” he said.

The pilot started in grade eight with subjects including consumer and hospitality studies, mechanical and civil technology as well as agricultural studies.

Mshengu said in this financial year his department would deliver six new schools at different districts as part of the infrastructure development. He also proper sanitation facilities were under construction. 

Mshengu said over the years, the department had lost over R500 million from staff debt staff debt because of the “weaknesses in internal control measures and the outdated operations of the department”.  

“Whilst we need to recover this money from both the ex and current employees of the department, we have to close the tap.

“In addition to the appointed debt collectors, we are also exploring an electronic system for leave management and timeous termination of the employees who have resigned or retired from the service,”  he said.

Schools across the country and contact classes at tertiary institutions will start shutting down from this Wednesday 30 June.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who on Sunday evening addressed the country on the government’s efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Ramaphosa said the closure of schools and other educational institutions for the winter holidays will be brought forward. He said all schools – including private schools – will be expected to be closed by the end of the week – on Friday; and that only limited access to tertiary institutions will be allowed. Ramaphosa said tertiary residences will, however, remain open.

Ramaphosa was addressing the nation following the reporting of sharp increases in the average number of daily new Covid-19 infections across the country.

He said the number of daily new infections was more than doubling, and that hospital admissions were rising. Ramaphosa said the deaths from Covid-19 were increasing by nearly 50%.

“The situation has gotten worse. In addition, we now have the Delta variant. The Delta variant has now been detected in five of our provinces, namely the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.

“We are concerned about the rapid spread of this variant. “Reports from some countries, including on our continent, also suggest that infections and clinical illness in children may be more common with the delta variant, even as the overall rate of infection remains substantially lower than in adults,” said Ramaphosa.

Just two weeks ago, parents raised their concerns about Department of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga gazetting that on 26 July learners in Grade R to seven, as well as grade R to 12 learners are special needs schools are to return to class daily.

The minister said the current rotational system in place was no longer working.

“It really worries me that we are going to erode the foundations of learning,” said Motshekga two weeks ago.

She said learners were missing out on a lot of work because they would come in one week and skip the next.

The minister’s decision was supported by the DBE portfolio committee.

READ: DBE Portfolio Committee supports return to class full-time for primary and special education learners

Motshekga said: “We continue to monitor the trajectory of the pandemic and make all necessary regulations and directions in line with the Covid-19 risk-adjusted differentiated strategy.

“I realise that there is anxiety about sending all primary school children back to school at once. There’s no need to panic. Our decision making is supported by empirical evidence.”

Her decision came under fierce criticism from some unions and political parties.

The Educators Union of South Africa (EUSA) called on teachers across the country to not go to work from Monday 21 June.

Julius Malema, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president also called for the shut down of schools and crèches as the country inched closer to the third wave of the pandemic. 

Malema said it was so painful to lose elderly people in the first and second wave.

Imagine now when we are going to have to bury kids, he said.

“Our children are going to die. We give the minister seven days to close schools. Failure to do so we will have to close schools ourselves as the EFF because we are not going to allow our children to die. We are not going to allow that.

“Can you imagine now when we are going to have to go and bury kids the way we were burying old people,” said Malema.

Malema said it was becoming clearer now that children are affected by the virus as more and more were testing positive for the virus. 

READ: Malema gives Motshekga seven days to shut down schools as Covid-19 cases rise in children

On Sunday, Ramaphosa said what South Africa is seeing is that the existing containment measures in place are not enough to cope with the speed and scale of new infections.

He said government has drawn on international best practice and scientific data from studies across the world when it considered what new measures to take.

“Our priority is to break the chain of transmission by reducing person-to-person contact and thereby help to flatten the curve.

“Based on scientific advice we received from the Ministerial Advisory Committee and further consultation with our provinces and metros and traditional leaders, and on the recommendation of the National Coronavirus Command Council, Cabinet has decided that the country should move to Adjusted Alert Level 4,” said Ramaphosa.

Adding that these additional restrictions will be in place for the next 14 days.

The president said the ministers of basic education and the minister of higher education, science and innovation will provide further details on arrangements.

NALEDI SHOTA|

Provincial departments of education have in recently outlined their plans and what they will be prioritising in this financial year through budget vote speeches. 

This week, Inside Education brings you some of the highlights that came out of the budget votes by MECs of education.  

Part one looks at the Eastern Cape and the North West provinces.

Eastern Cape 

The province received a budget allocation of R35.076 billion for the 2021/22 financial year. 

In his budget speech MEC Fundile Gade outlined the priorities of his department in this financial year including improving literacy and numeracy skills at foundation phase.

Gade said part of this programme will be to provide reading plans to learners in grades R and three. He said the department would also make available guidelines on how parents can assist children to read for meaning. 

“This Reading Academy teacher training is an online course where the department will be able to reach out and train many teachers at a time. The Moodle platform has already been set and is ready to roll out the training,” said Gade. 

Adding that the Foundation Phase teachers will be trained on the methodologies of teaching reading in 2021. 

The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces that has major infrastructure backlogs.

READ: DBE Budget vote debate: Eastern Cape Education MEC says corruption by officials is rife in his province

Gade said there were 228 projects in various stages of construction. Of the 228 projects, five major school projects are scheduled for completion in the current financial year. They include a hostel for a special needs school at a cost of R199-million.

He also said that 69 schools would receive sanitation infrastructure support and that the department had budgeted R20-million for sanitation in this financial year.  

Again on infrastructure, Gade said R40-million had been set aside for the rehabilitation, renovation and refurbishments of special schools. 

The other priority for the department is the establishment of special schools in all districts. In this financial year six special schools are set to be opened including an Autism school in Buffalo City Metro. 

Limpopo 

In her presentation of the R32.568 billion for the 2021/22 financial year, MEC Poppy Boshielo said one of the things her province will prioritise is e-learning.

She said this will be prioritised because when schools were closed during hard lockdown and while some learners continued to study online, most learners in Limpopo could not continue with online lessons.

“In order to address this, the department will be rolling out its e- learning strategy,” said Boshielo. 

Boshielo said premier Stanley Mathabatha allocated the department funding of R100 million to start with the rolling out of e-learning. She said the department also made available R128 million for the project.

The total budget for the e-learning programme would be R 228 million. Adding that the department will also provide tablets for learners and laptops to educators. 

“Given the available budget, the department will be implementing e-learning in two grades, grade 1 and grade 8.

“In Grade 1, there are 142 123 learners in the province while in Grade 8 there are 125 645 learners.

“To provide tablets for the Grade 1 learners, it will cost R 355 million and R 314 million for the Grade 8 learners,” said Boshielo. 

The MEC said the department would stagger the provision of tablets and that the programme will start at no-fee schools.

READ: #2020BudgetVote: Limpopo Education MEC Sets Aside R3.4 billion For School Infrastructure

Boshielo said technical schools in the province will partner with mining companies in order to prepare learners with relevant skills needed in the province. A province where mining is one of the major economic activities.  

“An example of such collaboration was launched in Mogalakwena, Phaladingoe Technical School between the department and Anglo-American Platinum, where learners are studying light and heavy electrical engineering courses. 

“These learners are taught from time to time by operations managers from the mine. The equipment and machines that they use have been donated by Anglo Platinum Mine. What is pleasing is that during the weekends, learners make money by fixing electrical appliances like irons, hot plates and kettles in the village. We call on all other mining houses to also come on board to assist the department as we build up this capacity that they need to remain globally competitive while utilising local labour and skills,” she said.

The department has also set aside R34 million for the roll out of the sanitary dignity program and it will be used to provide about 2.3 million packs to 190 000 girl children.

NYAKALLO TEFU|

The Department of Health announced on Friday that more Johnson and Johnson vaccine doses have arrived in the country. The department said these doses have been earmarked for educators across the country.

“The Department of Health has assured the education sector that there will be enough vaccine doses for everybody in the basic education sector as initially announced,” said DBE spokesperson Elijah Mhalnga.

Adding that on Wednesday, when the vaccination programme began, the Department of Health recorded that 49 776 educators and staff received the vaccines with another 55 444 getting inoculated on the second day.

The inoculation in the Western Cape province seems to be slightly delayed.

The province’s Head of Education Brent Walters said some educators should still be registered by their respective schools to receive the vaccine at a later stage.

No further details were given on when or how the process would go for educators who cannot be currently vaccinated. The provincial department only urged schools to still register educators and staff. 

According to the department of basic education, KwaZulu-Natal continues to lead with 32.1% of their target population vaccinated.

The national department said the Eastern Cape registered 21%, Free State at 21.9%, Mpumalanga recording 26% and North West with 22% teachers and staff.

The DBE said the Northern Cape recorded 12%, while Gauteng is at 11% as of Thursday.

The Department of Basic Education began with its vaccination drive on Wednesday. Teachers and non-teaching staff received their first jab of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

Since the beginning of the vaccination of educators across the country,  the department said105 000 people have been vaccinated.

Last week, 300 00 Johnson and Johnson vaccines arrived in the country and were earmarked for teachers and supporting staff from both the public and private sector.

Educators and staff who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 30 days and those who have been vaccinated using another vaccine and anyone who received a flu vaccine in the past 14 days will not be vaccinated.

The vaccination drive will take place until 8 July 2021 where 582 000 educators and supporting staff have been identified to receive the jab.

“We urge all educators and staff to follow the schedule in each district in order to ensure a smooth roll-out of the programme,” said Mhlanga.

NYAKALLO TEFU|

The Western Cape Education Department said on Thursday that it will open nine additional vaccination sites for educators on Friday.

This as teachers and non-teaching staff across the country get their first jab of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

“Over 2700 teachers and non-teaching staff will be vaccinated at ten sites tomorrow (Friday) this number will increase to over 4 300 on Monday,” said the department’s spokesperson Bronagh Hammond.

Western Cape education said over 500 teachers received their first jab on Thursday 24 June 2021 at a metro vaccination site.

READ: More than 48 000 people vaccinated on the first day of the basic education vaccination programme

“So far, 25 387 teachers and non-teaching staff have been informed of where they will be vaccinated,” added Hammond.

Hammond said the department is notifying schools directly based on the consent confirmations received.

The department said it is hoping to get a total of 55 200 vaccines for educators for now.

The vaccination of educators come at a time when the country is facing a third wave of the coronavirus with numbers in the past 24 hours at 17 493.

At the moment Gauteng is the epicenter of the virus, with 10 806 of the cases reported in the province.

Despite the numbers constantly increasing, learners and teachers across the country will continue going to school as instructed by the Department of Basic Education.

One of the educators, Ms Sasman, who was vaccinated in the Western Cape urged all educators to get their vaccines.

“I urge everyone of our eligible basic education sector staff members to take this opportunity to contribute to getting our schools back semblance of normality,” said Sasman.

Sasman said while the vaccine cannot stop staff members from getting Covid-19, educators still need to follow safety protocols to protect them from serious illness.

Western Cape education said it is happy with the rollout of vaccines and so far, everything has been going according to plan.

“We again would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Provincial Department of Health who have accommodated our needs thus far. Their support to this important cause is unwavering,” said Hammond.

NALEDI SHOTA| 

On the first day of the basic education vaccination programme, the department said more than 48 000 teachers and education departments staff were vaccinated. 

On Wednesday the sector began its two-week vaccination programme which is expected to end on July 8.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, the department said the Western Cape and Limpopo will start their vaccination programme on Thursday and Friday respectively. 

“All other provinces started rolling out today with KZN vaccinating the largest number and the lowest number vaccinated in NC. NC has decided to send mobile teams to some of their smallest towns to kickstart the campaign,” reads the statement. 

The KwaZulu-Natal department of education said it vaccinated 21 773 teachers and support staff on the first day. 

DBE also rubbished what it called fake news that circulated on social media that the Department of Health is going to run out of vaccines.

“This led to a rush on some vaccine sites particularly in Eastern Cape, North West and Free State,” reads the statement. 

The department said there were enough doses for the targeted population. Those who will be vaccinated in this programme will receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said on Saturday that the sector was looking at vaccinating about 582 000 people including private school teachers, teacher union leaders and all staff at provincial departments of education as well as the national department. 

NALEDI SHOTA|

Some teachers are still undecided on whether they will be vaccinated while others are excited that they will finally get the jab. 

The mixed reactions come as the basic education vaccination programme starts on Wednesday.

Inside Education spoke to a number of teachers about how they feel about being vaccinated. 

A Free State teacher said he is “nervous” about the inoculation.

“The real reason is because of the things we hear in the media that people who are vaccinated come back complaining or sick,” he said.

He added that other teachers who are older are also nervous.

“We do not know whether it is the real vaccine. There was also that one from PE (sic) that was contaminated. So, we are not sure whether this one is the right one. The whole thing about the vaccination does not sit right with us,” he said.

Adding that he received a text message two weeks ago asking whether or not I was going to take the vaccine.

“I said I would – we do not have a choice. I am sceptical but I am going to take it.

“Eish, but I’m still sceptical. I wish I could get conclusive evidence that it is going to work,” said the teacher. 

A teacher in the Eastern Cape said some of them have lost friends and colleagues through this virus, “and it would have been better if we had been vaccinated sooner. We would have not lost those people,” said the teacher. 

Another said there was an air of excitement at his school. 

“We are ready. People are excited. Let it come, we have been waiting for a long time for this vaccine,” said the teacher. 

A primary school teacher in the Eastern Cape said she has been waiting patiently for the vaccine and is ready: “I can’t wait for our turn. Let it come, we will deal with the aftereffects if there are any,” she said.  

Another said their fear of needles is making them not to be excited about the inoculation. 

 I feel nothing about being vaccinated.  I am not sure I will be vaccinated,  I’m still a bit scared,” said a young teacher at a school in KwaZulu-Natal.

“I hate needles,” she said. Adding that if there was an alternative – such as taking a pill, she would do so without a doubt.

“I’m still contemplating. I’m not saying I’m not going to be vaccinated but I’m still contemplating,” she said.

Another teacher from the Free State teacher said in order to save lives they needed to be vaccinated.

“People are saying this and that about the vaccine but if it is for our benefit as teachers and learners then we will take it,” said the teacher.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced on Saturday that the sector’s vaccination programme would start on Wednesday and run until 8 July.

She said the sector is expected to vaccinate about 582 000 people and the majority of these are teachers in public schools.

According to reports, there are 395 682 teachers that will be vaccinated. Those to be vaccinated in this programme will receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The educators vaccination programme began amid high spikes of infection rates across the country.

READ: Limpopo education department concerned about the number of coronavirus cases at schools

Just last week, 1077 teachers and 1977 learners tested positive in Gauteng.

On Monday, the education department in Limpopo said it saw a sharp increase of reported Covid-19 cases in the at schools particularly in the Capricorn District.

In May, the South African Democratic Teachers Union said over 3500 teachers succumbed to the virus. The union called for teachers to be prioritised similar to other frontline workers.

But there is still some confusion.

Some teachers have said more clarity is needed regarding the safety of the vaccines.

A deputy principal at a school in KwaZulu-Natal told Inside Education, “We do not know whether there are side effects. I still have not made up my mind.” 

The issue of safety and contamination of the vaccines was recently realised.

Last week, pharmaceutical company Aspen said it was disappointed that specific batches of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine manufactured at its plant in Gqeberha had to be destroyed. 

READ: Unions wait in bated breath for details on the vaccination of educators

The destruction of the vaccines came after an announcement by the United States Food and Drug Administration that some batches of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines produced at the Emergent BioSolutions Plant in Baltimore in America were contaminated.

This issue was quickly resolved. In a statement, Aspen said it will provide 300 000 doses of the vaccine for South African teachers that were not impacted by the contamination. 

READ: Announcement on teacher vaccination to be made this week

On Saturday the acting Director-General for the department of basic education, Granville Whittle reiterated that people who work in schools and who are 60 and above qualify to be vaccinated in the sector’s vaccination programme even though they qualify in the programme that is currently run for the general population. 

According to the department of basic education, there will be 281 sites nationally and by the end of the two weeks 90 480 jabs would have been administered. 

The post Teachers share mixed emotions about being vaccinated appeared first on Inside Education – Inspiring Minds.

NYAKALLO TEFU|

The Gauteng Education Department (GDE) says there is an area in the South of Johannesburg where the wrong vaccines were delivered for educators.

Wednesday marked day one of Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine rollouts for educators across the country.

“There is an area in the South where they are assisting adults over the age of 60 and they are using the Pfizer vaccine, unfortunately due to a communication breakdown they were delivered to the site where educators are being vaccinated,” said GDE MEC for education Panyaza Lesufi.

Lesufi said the situation has however been attended to and rectified.

In the next two weeks, more than 125 000 teachers and non-teaching staff are expected to receive their first jab of the J&J vaccine.

“Of that total, 71 726 are educators at Gauteng public schools, 24 492 are non-educators such as clerks, food handlers and teacher union staff.

A total of 10 488 School Governing Body appointed educators and Grade R practitioners in public schools are also eligible for the shots,” said Lesufi.

READ: Western Cape starts teacher vaccination

Lesufi said the remainder 19 678 is made up of educators from Independent Schools.

The vaccine drive will end when schools close on 8 July 2021.

Lesufi was the first to get vaccinated on Wednesday before the educators in Gauteng at Rabashoto community hall in Tembisa.

“It is not compulsory but we highly recommend that educators get their jab, so we want to ask all our educators and staff that they take advantage of this opportunity of a lifetime so that the entire sector can be protected,” said Lesufi.

National Professional Teachers’ Organization of South Africa’s (Naptosa) Basil Manuel said the vaccination of teachers has started off very well and they are happy.

“We are pleased by the large turnout for the vaccination, there were some glitches in some provinces but those were eventually sorted out,” said Manuel.

Manuel said they were not aware of the wrong vaccines being sent to one of the centers in Gauteng but are certain that was dealt with accordingly.

“There has been a bit of unhappiness because remember we only have 300 000 jabs while we wait for more, so some provinces have said all the state paid educators must come first and others to follow,” added Manuel.

Manuel said they have however explained how the process will work and they understand.

“We are happy with progress made at all our 60 sites in Gauteng as no major glitches were reported besides a few challenges that were quickly attended to,” said Lesufi.

READ: All systems go for the basic education vaccination programme

The post Wrong vaccines sent to Gauteng teachers appeared first on Inside Education – Inspiring Minds.