Belfast Coal, in partnership with Citizen Leader Lab, officially launched the Leaders for Education programme at the Belfast Mine. The launch marked the beginning of a 24-month journey where ten Exxaro business leaders have been paired with ten school principals. Together, they will collaborate on initiatives aimed at strengthening leadership within local schools and driving meaningful change in surrounding communities.
The Leaders for Education programme, supported by Exxaro, is designed to build leadership capacity across 40 schools in four regions: Lephalale (Grootgeluk), Emalahleni (Matla), Delmas (Leeuwpan), and Emakhazeni (Belfast). The initiative brings principals and business leaders together in Leadership Circles to foster collaboration, co-create solutions to pressing challenges, and enhance leadership skills within schools. The programme follows the 70:20:10 learning model and progresses through three phases: discovery and relationship building, visioning and planning, and implementation with community engagement.
Through workshops, coaching sessions, and Communities of Practice, participants develop practical solutions to improve their schools while strengthening personal and professional leadership skills. The programme is underpinned by Exxaro’s commitment to social impact and continuous improvement. By encouraging teamwork, ethical leadership, and community involvement, Leaders for Educationaims to empower school leaders to create sustainable change. Success stories already show principals and business leaders embracing innovation, stronger communication, and a renewed focus on learner-centred progress.
