News 08:00

BULLETIN 19 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party is encouraged by the matric pass rate but calls for an overhaul of education
# RISE Mzansi says more needs to be done to future-proof learners for the economy
# And, the US Congress averts a partial government shutdown

# The GOOD Party says the improved matric pass rate is encouraging, as is the fact that all provinces showed an increase. The matric class of 2023 achieved a pass rate of 82.9-percent, up by 2.8-percentage points from 80.1-percent in 2022. The GOOD Party’s secretary-general, Brett Herron, says the greatest threat to human and economic progress, is an education system that fails to prepare young people for the future world of work:

RISE Mzansi has also congratulated the matric class of 2023, however, it questions whether the education system is properly preparing learners for the modern, knowledge-intensive economy. RISE Mzansi’s Lawrence Manaka says there has been a gradual improvement in the number of learners who achieve 50-percent and more in mathematics and science, but it’s not good enough. He says the education system must work towards futureproofing learners by investing in mathematics and science:

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi’s office has dismissed claims that the Usindiso Commission of Inquiry is a sham. The inquiry is looking into the cause and liability of the deadly fire at the hijacked Usindiso building in Johannesburg in August last year. The Marshalltown Fire Justice Campaign, representing the victims of the fire, says these sorts of commissions are about a cover-up for those responsible for the gross, criminal neglect of the housing crisis. The premier’s office says the point of the inquiry is precisely to identify and address failures.

# The US Congress has narrowly averted a partial government shutdown by passing a short-term spending bill. The legislation was approved with 107 Republicans and 207 Democrats supporting the proposal. The bill, which represents this fiscal year’s third stopgap spending measure, will extend government funding at current levels until early March. The funding legislation now goes to president Joe Biden’s desk for his signature. Senate majority leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer, says the bill is a vital measure allowing lawmakers more time to negotiate over full-year appropriations bills.

# Golf: Former winner Li Haotong carded a five-under-par 67 in the first round for a four-way share of the lead in the Dubai Desert Classic. The Chinese share the lead with Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark, American Cameron Young, and England’s Andy Sullivan. England’s Richard Mansell finished in a five-way tie for second place on four-under. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy started his quest for a record-breaking fourth title with a 71 to sit four shots off the lead.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-91-cents and the euro at 20-rand-59-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 41-thousand-948-dollars-32-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-22-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….