concept
12 September 2006
The concept of a School Business Manager as a dedicated individual who is
able to manage human resources, budget, infrastructure and provisioning issues
at school can bring greater efficiency in the running of the school, and can
add massive value to a school community and enhance learning.
So said Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore during a keynote address
this morning to a forum of school secretaries and administrators. Leading
members of the National College for School Leadership, the Institute for
Administrative Management and the Manchester Metropolitan University, all from
London, are visiting the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to assist
with the development of courses for School Business Managers.
In November last year, MEC Dugmore visited London as a guest of the above
institutions, and said he witnessed "a real sense of the positive impact the
concept of School Business Management (SBM) had on the confidence of those who
participated in the various courses and programmes."
School principals in South Africa, in the United Kingdom (UK) and all over
the world, face a myriad of complex challenges, said MEC Dugmore. "Not only do
our principals have to ensure the effective delivery of the curriculum in the
classroom, but they also have to look after the social well-being of children
and at the same time ensures that every teacher has his basic needs. In essence
our principals are managing large, complex and challenging institutions."
From the experiences that head teachers (schools principals) in the UK
related to him, it is clear that school business managers had been a fantastic
investment for education in that country. "It has transferred skills in a real
way, giving new opportunities and confidence to thousands of administrators and
school secretaries, whose value is not often recognised and appreciated," said
MEC Dugmore.
He said the role of the school managers in the UK has allowed the principal
to concentrate on his core function, which is the delivery of the curriculum
and enhancing academic performance. "The school business managers we met in the
schools we visited spoke of a new lease on life, a new confidence and a passion
for making a real difference in their schools."
The WCED is developing a certificate course in School Business Management,
which will take about a year to finalise. The content will consist of Financial
Management, Human Resource Management, Risk Management, Facilities Management,
and General and Office Administration.
The final course specifications/qualification will have to be registered
with South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and ratification by the
appropriate Standards Generating Body (SGB). Therefore, the roll-out of the
certificate course will probably be as from January 2008.
MEC Dugmore "To enable all staff at schools to qualify for entry into the
certificate course, which has an entry level of grade 12, current employees
will be assessed according to their qualifications and prior learning
experience.
"Those who do not possess the necessary qualifications and experience will
have to attend a bridging course to provide them entry into the certificate
course. The bridging course is intended to up-skill targeted persons and/or
re-skill targeted persons. The course will consist of short courses and skills
programmes according to the outcomes of the screening process.
"It is the intention of the WCED to start with the bridging course in mid
2007 and a total of 200 staff members will be selected through a screening
process," said MEC Dugmore.
Enquiries:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 550 3938
Tel: (021) 467 2523
Fax: (021) 425 5689
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
12 September 2006
