Head of Department, Mrs. MOC Mhlabane
Members of the Executive Management present
Representatives from the media
Members of the Community who are listening from various media platforms
Sanibonani
I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you all for honoring us with your presence.
We thought that it is prudent for us to gather in this fashion to share with you, the province and the rest of the country the extent to which programmes relating to the delivery of quality education are unfolding.
I took time to engage principals of Ehlanzeni and Gert Sibande Districts and on 27 May 2016 I will be meeting with all principals of Nkangala District as part of an ongoing endeavour to take stock of the implementation processes. Districts have already convened their first quarter reviews.
I must say that following those engagement with principals and other stakeholders, we are on course and still optimistic that the results of 2016 will be better than any ever produced by the province.
Our target is to improve the grade 12 results by 10% meaning that when we announce the results in January 2017 we must announce nothing below 88.6% pass rate. It is possible.
To this effect, the department will focus on the following programmes to ensure that it achieves the set targets:
- Leaner Improvement Plans
- Teacher Development
- Improvement of the intake and pass rate of Mathematics, Physical Science and Technology
- Strengthening Early Childhood Development
- Support to out of School Youth and
- Infrastructure Development.
Learner improvement plans
Our quest is to deliver a public value service that will play a greater role in building an inclusive society, providing equal opportunities and helping all our learners to realise their full potential, in particular those who live below the breadline and people with disabilities.
In this regard, the department will intensify the implementation of learner improvement programmes as follows:
June - July holiday classes
The June /July holiday Classes (Winter Classes) are scheduled to take place from 27 June to 08 July 2016 in 125 Centres.
These classes are compulsory for all schools that obtained a pass rate below 60% in 2014 and those of 2015.
The department took this approach after realising disturbing trends where the schools that participate in the programme improves and those outside declined, leading to a yoyo effect.
The identified subjects are Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Physical Science, Life Science, Accounting, Agricultural Science, Geography, English (FAL), Economics and Business Studies.
The department will provide School Nutrition to all learners who will participate in these classes and Scholar Transport only in areas that are needy.
Teachers who will participate in this programme are only those with a proven record of excellence following the results of the past four years and they will be compensated accordingly.
The department has budgeted R7 million towards this programme.
Radio lessons
Radio lessons have over the years proved to be an integral part of a programme to improve learner performance as such the department has already entered into agreements with the SABC and 11 Community Radio Stations to implement them as follows:
- Ligwalagwala FM will implement this programme on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 17H30 to 18H00 starting on 23 May 2016.
- Ikwekwezi FM will implement this programme on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 14H30 to 15H00 starting on 23 May 2016.
Both these stations will add Thursdays after the local government elections in August 2016.
- 11 Community Radio Stations will implement this programme from 23 May 2016 every Monday to Thursday from 14H00 to 15H00.
The dial a tutor
The department will resuscitate the Dial a Tutor programme from 6 June 2016 and will continue until 30 November 2016, Monday to Thursday from 18H00 to 20H00.
Through this program, a learner or a teacher who experiences any difficulty during their private study is able to seek assistance by simply dialing the dial a tutor line: 087 805 1350.
The caller is then connected to the relevant subject specialist on duty to provide guidance in addressing the problem.
This program greatly relieves a learner who may end up abandoning an important section of the work in preparation for the end of year examinations.
A team of selected subject specialist is placed on standby from 18h00 to 20h00 from Monday to Thursday each week to attend to questions and concerns that may be raised by both learners and educators.
The caller first dials the departmental dial a tutor line (087 805 1350) and through the introduction of latest technology at the call centre, the call is directed to the available subject specialist who then assists the caller in addressing the problem.
I wish to encourage all our grade 10 to 12 learners to take advantage of this opportunity.
Teacher development
We are mindful that the greatest resource of all is our teachers; therefore to invest in our teachers is to invest in the bright future for our country and province in particular.
The department line SETA (ETDP SETA) injected R20, 9 million through discretionary grants to capacitate teachers in various programmes and public service staff in the province.
The department’s drive to capacitate teachers and subject advisors on subject content through Higher Education Institutions on formal qualification is on course and is yielding the desired results.
1400 foundation phase teachers, 600 in the Intermediate Phase, 1200 in the Senior and FET Phase teachers will undertake an Advanced Certificate in Teaching (ACT), 420 undergraduate teachers are registered for Bachelor Degree in education this financial year to ensure a satisfactory inflow of teaching personnel supply in the system over the coming years.
38 Subject Advisors and 2000 teachers in the foundation phase will be capacitated on Languages, Mathematics, Life Skills and Curriculum Differentiation.
38 Subject Advisors and 87 teachers from 10 pilot schools are being capacitated for ANA Mathematics Data Analysis.
375 teachers will be trained on inclusion and 750 teachers and subject advisors will receive capacitation on assessor, moderator, material development, facilitation of learning and mentoring and coaching.
2 400 teachers will be capacitated on the use of ICT in education using the District Teacher Development Centres and Schools and 400 teachers will receive training on the Introduction of African Languages into Schools.
The department will conduct quarterly content workshops for 500 teachers in order to address under performance in content subjects performing at 60% and below especially Accounting, Economics and MST Subjects.
Our teachers will be trained in preparation of the implementation of the vocational curriculum stream in selected schools in the province.
The department line SETA (ETDP SETA) injected R20, 9 million through discretionary grants to capacitate teachers in various programmes and public service staff in the province.
The department has set aside R89 Million under programme 2 for teacher development in this financial year.
Maths, Science and Technology
The department continues to priorities Mathematics, Science and Technology as the subjects of choice which are a gateway to better career prospects and economic development.
Moreover, the Department has received a Conditional Grant to the value of R42 million to focus on the following:
- Provision of ICT resources, laboratory apparatus and consumables to 136 schools and workshop equipment, machinery and tools to 15 Technical Secondary Schools
- Conducting study camps, road shows and Mathematics, Science and Technology competitions to stimulate learner interest in these subjects targeting 20 000 learners in the province.
- Training of 88 teachers on the introduction of CAPS for technical subjects and the training of 1200 teachers on pedagogical content knowledge.
In addition the department has prioritised MSTA feeder primary schools by training teachers and procuring resources for these schools.
As we speak our officials are already using the well-equipped Maths, Science and Technology Academy that was donated to the Department by South32 (former BHP Billiton)
We are encouraged that all grade ten learners in the 101 designated schools that are part of the academy are taking pure Mathematics and Physical Science. Equally the training of grade 10 teachers on quarterly basis is progressing very well.
Through this initiative by the province, we are optimistic that going forward the province will produce the desired number of mathematics and physical science graduates
Youth Development Programmes
The Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust (MRTT) is another vehicle that we use to capacitate and empower the youth, industry workers and government employees in disadvantaged communities in order for them to participate in the broader economic sphere of the province.
Artisan Development Programme
Our mission following the pronouncement by the Honourable Premier in his State of the Province Address was to develop 5000 artisans by 2019.
The Department has committed R130 Million towards this programme to continue with the training of 1 173 students registered in 2015/16 and commence with training for 1000 new students this financial year.
The Department will on 30 June 2016 Launch the Artisanship Development programme that is currently taking place at Hydra Ack.
MRTT is allocated R228 Million to facilitate its programmes.
Infrastrusture Development
The Department working with its implementing agent, the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport are making inroads to improve systems and business processes to mitigate the delayed projects which were to be started in 2015.
To adhere to the National School Infrastructure Norms and Standards (December 2016 compliance target) on basic services, the Department will this year prioritise the implementation of 374 basic services projects (i.e. provisioning of water, electricity and sanitation).
The 2016/17 school infrastructure budget is R1, 030 billion.
Not long the department handed over state of the art schools namely, Mathibela Secondary School, Ubuhlebuzile Secondary School Portia Shabangu Secondary School in an endeavour to showcase progress in this regard.
In addition, the departments will soon handover Mgcobaneni Primary School, Ebuhleni P School, Samuel Mhlanga P School, Moses Mnisi Secondary School and Coronation Secondary School.
We are delighted that Steve Tshwete Boarding School is nearly complete and deserving leaners will occupy it when schools re-open for the third term.
The MEC for Education, Mrs. Reginah Mhaule together with the MEC for Public Works Roads and Transport, Ms. Dumisile Nhlengethwa ,the Ehlanzeni District Mayor ; Cllr Letta Shongwe and the Executive Mayor of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Cllr Thulisile Khoza will on Monday, 30 May 2016 handover the state of the art Shulzendal Primary School at 12h00.
This Primary School carries the hope and dreams of people of Shulzelndal Village and the entire Nkomazi Local Municipality.
It consist of 15 classrooms, an administration block, Library, Computer centre, Kitchen, Grade R centre, 22 Toilets, tennis court, covered walk ways and a car parking bay.
Shulzendal Primary School has an enrolment of 827 from grade R to grade 7 and it prides itself with a staff compliment consisting of the Principal, Deputy Principal, 3 HOD’s, 18 (PL) Educators, 2 grade R practitioners, 1 Admin clerk and 2 General Workers,
You and the Community of Nkomazi Local Municipality are invited to grace the occasion.
Admission of leaners for 2017
The Admission Policy dictates that the Head of department must determine a process of registration for admission to public schools in order to enable the admission of learners to take place in a timely and efficient manner.
I am delighted that the Head of department, Mrs. Mahlasedi Mhlabane has already made a determination to this effect after consulting the relevant stakeholders, as such:
All public schools within the province have been directed to start a process of admitting learners from 16 May 2016 until 12 August 2016.
Unless directed otherwise by the Head of Department, Principals are required to manage this process in their respective institutions and to compile reports to update the line function on progress in accordance to the Admission Policy of learners in public schools.
Schools’ admission policies must always take into account the constitutional mandates and should be in line with the dictates of the South African Schools Act no 84 of 1996.
District Directors must submit their progress reports to the Head of Department on 31 August 2016.
Circuit Managers will be expected to lead all processes of addressing critical cases that may arise from the recruitment and admission process. This process must be finalised by 16 September 2016.
A final report on the admission of learners must be submitted by District Directors to the Head of Department on 30 September 2016.
I wish to take this opportunity to request all our parents and communities to start registering their children for schooling in 2017. This, if done on time will enable the department to plan and organise its resources properly.
The department will during the process establish a team of officials who will be able to assist where there are challenges.
Conclusion
I take this time to thank you once more for being part of this media conference and I wish that you can assist us in ensuring that learners, parents and members of the community throughout the province get to hear this good story.
Ngiyabonga
