In September 2009, the department took an important decision to invite the Special Investigations Unit to undertake a comprehensive investigation into alleged cases of fraud and corruption throughout all tiers of the organisation, from schools to head office. This was prompted by the Auditor-General’s special report that pointed to instances of fraud and corruption wherein officials were found to be doing business with the department without declarations.
This was the first time that serious allegations of widespread fraud and corruption were being confronted head-on in a deliberate and structured manner that sought to leave no stones in exposing wrong doing.
The department has, so far sought to allow due process and thorough investigations to continue unhindered.
In that regard the following categories of officials will, within 24 hours, be served with letters of intention to place them on precautionary suspensions:
* two chief directors
* three directors
* two deputy directors
* one senior admin officer
In addition to the cases mentioned above, the department is following up on cases of senior officials who inflated their travelling costs and other irregular claims, in all these instances, the paramount intention will be to ensure that all these monies are recovered.
The department is in the process of introducing measures to curb fraud and instances of fraudulent sting operations against government installations and financial systems. All officials involved with sensitive departmental information will undergo security assessment and individual vetting.
In the short term, the department will be appointing a senior manager responsible for overall security.
Learner Attainment Improvement Strategy (LAIS) intervention
In line with the resolutions of the December 2009 LAIS Summit held here at the Education Leadership Institute, the Eastern Cape Department of Education sought to spell out a comprehensive programme of action for the improvement of learner attainment, a critical element in that regard was the need to immediately implement a targeted training programme for FET schools’ School Management Teams (SMTs) of underperforming schools on instructional leadership.
Additionally, the recommendations further insisted that all the principals of the 494 schools that performed at less than 50 percent in the 2009 Grade 12 results be also subjected to training intended to radically improve their core management capacity that has repeatedly been identified as key element in all the best performing schools regardless of their resource capacity/allocation.
Another important resolution encouraged urgent intervention in seeking to enhance the capacity of teachers responsible for ‘killer subjects’, which include:
* accounting
* agricultural science
* mathematics
* physical science
The training programme seeks to ensure that SMT members fully understand their roles and responsibilities as far as the oversight and management of curriculum implementation at school.
Stats on training on instructional leadership:
* number of Schools Trained: 516
* number of School Management Team (SMT) members trained: 961
* number of Education Development Officers (EDOs) in attendance: 87
Conclusion
We have noted with concern ongoing and deliberate attempts to destabilise and malign the image of the department. This has manifested itself through random instances of lawlessness and undermining of authority. The department will continue targeting fraud and corruption at all levels in the department. We will work hard to restore work ethic and acceptable organisational ethos.
Finally, we will move swiftly to lay charges against any and all individuals who have deliberately flouted regulations and rules of engagement.
Issued by: Department of Education, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
7 June 2010
Source: Department of Education, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
(http://www.ecdoe.gov.za/)
