in Cape Town
17 September 2007
The Council of Education Ministers met in Cape Town today.
A certificate for learners who complete Grade 9 has been under discussion
for a number of years. Council today approved a process that will lead to the
introduction of a General Education Certificate for learners who complete grade
9. Council noted that the number of learners in grade 9 is almost double that
in grade 12 and that the introduction of the new certificate will have
substantial financial and personnel implications.
The Minister said, "I must emphasise that the aim of this government remains
to provide educational opportunities for all. The Governors Executive Committee
(GEC) will not be a cul-de-sac; it will not be the end of the line for
learners.
We encourage all learners to either write matric, to go on to focus schools
or Further Education Training (FET) colleges, or to explore other opportunities
like learnerships.
Council heard presentations from a number of non-education sector parties,
including the Scouts Association, which is celebrating its centenary this year,
and Arcelor Mittal Steel, which has undertaken to build ten new schools using
innovative technologies.
"We are most excited, and welcome the offer Mittal has made to us," said the
Minister.
Council discussed the delivery of learning materials under the auspices of
the national recovery plan, and heard reports from each province of their
preparations for the matric exams.
"The plan is on track. I thank the majority of teachers who have been
committed to making the recovery plan work", the Minister said. However the
Minister also expressed dismay at the fact that some teachers had refused to be
part of the recovery plan, placing their own interests above those of their
learners.
Council heard a report on the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) that
has been tabled for negotiations. This provides that as from January 2008, all
teachers will be "translated" on to new salary scales. This adjustment alone
will be between 1% and 40%, based on experience and level of qualification. If
agreed, most teachers will get between one percent and five percent from
January 2008, in addition to the general 7,5% adjustment in July 2007.
Salary increments are currently one percent per annum, based on the
Integrated Quality Management Systems (IQMS). The new proposal is for a three
percent increment every two years, based on an external evaluation.
The entry-point salary for teachers was R99 625; it is now proposed at R115
492. There is also now the opportunity for specialisation. The maximum salary
is currently R171 393; we are proposing R324 980.
Council then discussed various educational policies whose implementation
lies at the heart of the successful improvement of learner performance in
schools. These include:
* a draft policy framework for the organisation, roles and responsibilities
of education districts
* a report of an institutional management service for principals of
schools
* the continuing professional teacher development component of the National
Framework on Teacher Education and Development, and in particular, the criteria
for teacher development activities, which will earn professional development
(PD) points
* The action plan for the mass adult literacy campaign
* The Quality Improvement, Development and Support Programme (QIDS UP) that is
based in 3 500 schools in all provinces. QIDS UP focuses on improving reading
and writing, and on the management and leadership in schools based in poorer
districts
* The new textbooks that are being chosen for inclusion in the national
catalogues for grades 11 and 12 in 2008.
A further range of issues were noted by the Council and they included the
following:
The number of no-fee schools for 2008; the presentation of the National
Education Infrastructure Management System to Cabinet and to the President's
Co-ordinating Council and the implementation plan for the recruitment of
foreign teachers; the launch of the Ithuba Writing Project, a project that
facilitates the writing and use of innovative texts in all indigenous
languages; and a policy for the assessment of the National Certificate
(Vocational)
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Ministerial Spokesperson
Tel: 012 312 5538
Cell: 082 556 0446
E-mail: ngqengelele.l@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education
17 September 2007
Source: Department of Education (http://www.education.gov.za)
