Dugmore
5 December 2007
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) plans to invest R6 million in
its literacy and numeracy strategy in the next three years, including offering
100 bursaries for maths and science teachers, as part of its strategy to
improve literacy and numeracy levels and the quality of education, said
Education MEC Cameron Dugmore in reply to oral questions in the Provincial
Legislature today.
MEC Dugmore also had to answer questions relating to the re-settlement of a
water-logged school, the completion of a school building, accommodation of
rural learners, and the appointment of invigilators for matric
examinations.
See full questions and answers below.
Question 2: Esau to ask Cameron Dugmore, Minister of Education:
How many qualified teachers are currently required for Mathematics and
Science and how will the shortage is addressed over the next five years?
Minister replies:
The WCED does not currently have a comprehensive database that can give
immediate access to data on supply and demand for Mathematics and Science
teachers.
Challenges for such a database include collecting and maintaining
information on teachers who are teaching subjects they did not train to teach,
in either temporary or permanent capacities. This applies in particular to
schools in rural or disadvantaged areas, where it is difficult to replace a
mathematics or science teacher. Schools often have to engage the services of
teachers who have not specialised in these subjects.
The WCED is adopting a range of measures to address this issue.
Through Persal, WCED has a record of the Relative Education Qualification
Value (REQV) level of every employee, including major subjects, if applicable.
Our Research Directorate has also started gathering information on teacher
qualifications for the WCED's Central Education Management Information System
(CEMIS).
The WCED has commissioned research into teacher supply and demand that will
commence in 2008.
In January, a task team will start the process of aligning all existing data
bases and will develop a comprehensive database of teacher supply / demand,
qualifications, specialisation and continuous information of subjects presented
per educator per school.
Meanwhile, the WCED is providing bursaries for education students planning
to teach Mathematics and Science.
The WCED is also in communication with the Education Deans' Forum of Western
Cape higher education institutions (HEIs) in order to improve planning,
communication alignment and in the end the quality of education.
The WCED Cape Teaching Institute (CTI) held a very successful, two-day
Seminar for Maths teachers attended by 500 maths teachers in October
The CTI has rolled out the following courses:
Foundation Phase Numeracy - three courses, 151 attendees
Intermediate - Mathematics - three courses 163 attendees
Science - three courses 142 attendees
Senior Phase Mathematics, one course for 43 persons
In order to re-skill educators, WCED invests in Advanced Certificate in
Education (ACE) courses provided by universities for Mathematics and Science
teachers. The department plans to fund 100 teachers for the two-year course as
part if its Literacy and Numeracy strategy. The WCED plans to invest R1 million
in 20007/08, R2 million in 2008/09, and R3 million in 2009/10.
Question 3: Esau to ask Cameron Dugmore, Minister of Education:
With regard to Bongolethu Primary, Philippi:
* What plans have been designed to replace this water-logged school.
The school has not been on the priority list for attention because it only
recently became a public school. The matter will receive further attention
during the 2008/09 financial year.
* Has land has been identified for the relocation of the school?
The WCED is currently reviewing options for the placement of the school.
These include using land allocated for schools in informal settlement areas of
Browns' Farm. However, this would impact negatively on plans to accommodate
learners from feeder areas for each site. Another option is to use land on
higher ground on the Bongolethu site, currently earmarked for sports
fields.
* What consultation processes in this regard have been implemented?
The WCED consulted the school community initially, and will consult the
broader community during the New Year, to inform final preparation of the
2008/09 infrastructure budget.
* Under what circumstances are teaching and learning taking place
currently?
The school did not previously experience problems. However, we are now
addressing problems caused by unusual rainfalls of recent weeks.
Question 4: de Villiers to ask Cameron Dugmore, Minister of Education:
* Why is the Masibambane Secondary School not completed, was its full
completion budgeted for and when will it be completed?
Minister replies:
Masibambane is already a completed school. We are currently upgrading the
school in phases. We have completed all phases budgeted for to date.
We have budgeted for each phase of the upgrade of the school.
Masibambane is a completed school. We will continue upgrading the school in
phases. The next phase includes plans by the School Governing Body (SGB) to
replace prefabricated classrooms. The WCED will pay funds for the project into
the account of the school once the department has received the necessary signed
legal agreement from the SGB.
The SGB will appoint consultants now that will assist the school to complete
a proper project plan and prepare the necessary building plans. After approval
of the project plan and the building plan, additional funds will be allocated
to the school in 2008/09 to complete the construction of the new
classrooms.
Question 9: Witbooi to ask Cameron Dugmore, Minister of Education:
Does the department have any plans in place for next year to handle cases
where Secondary schools in particular the rural areas, cannot or do not want to
accommodate learners due to the fact that schools are too full?
Minister replies:
The WCED applies an early registration system each year. The information
gathered from the schools is analysed by the district offices and shortages are
reported to Head Office.
These needs are further analysed by the Head Office and are prioritised
according to funds available.
These hotspot projects were included on the adjustment project list for
2007/8, as is shown on the Adjusted Estimates of Provincial Expenditure
2007.
There are four legs to this programme:
Leg one: Funds are transferred to SGB who purchases new mobile classrooms
(fully funded by WCED).
Leg two: Funds are transferred to SGBs who built permanent classrooms (SGB
contributions plus WCED contribution).
Leg three: The Department of Transport and Public Works relocates available
mobile classrooms for use during 2008.
Leg four: WCED subsidised learner transport may be provided from schools
(areas) with serious shortages to schools (areas) where there are classrooms
available.
The WCED is aware that additional major shortages may develop after the
summer holiday. Such shortages will receive the necessary attention when they
arise and has been devised funds were appropriated to address classroom
shortages at the start of the 2008 academic year.
Question 10: Witbooi to ask Cameron Dugmore, Minister of Education:
What process is followed annually to appoint invigilators for matric final
examinations at schools, who is responsible for this process and what steps do
the department take when invigilators commit unlawful practices?
Minister replies:
Schools are responsible for identifying and nominating invigilators.
Invigilators must be citizens of good standing in their communities. They may
not be members of the parent body or staff of the school. Schools submit names
to circuit managers who then submit them to the Examinations Directorate of the
WCED for consideration and appointment.
The examinations directorate of the WCED manages this process.
Officials responsible for investigating irregularities will investigate
immediately if they receive reports of any alleged irregularities by any role
player in the examinations, including invigilators. The department will apply
due process in this investigation, in hearings that may as a result of the
investigations, and the application of appropriate sanctions. The WCED's
Irregularities Committee governs the process of dealing with
irregularities.
For enquiries, contact:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
5 December 2007
