J Tselapedi: North West Education Prov Budget Vote 2006/07

18 May 2006

Madam Speaker,
Honourable Deputy Speaker,
Honourable Premier,
Members of the Provincial Legislature,
Representatives from civil society,
Non-governmental organisations,
The House of Traditional Leaders,
Esteemed guests, parents and educators,
Members of educator organisations,
Officials of the Department of Education
Special guests from schools,
Media representatives,
Ladies and gentlemen:

Introduction

“There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads on to
fortune,” so said Shakespeare. This is the time for all men of conscience to
help shake off the discrimination, poverty, prejudice, corruption and
deprivation that have become the hallmark of the masses of our people.

Madam Speaker, it is my conviction that for our budgets to become meaningful
to those whose fate we come here to determine we must replace the vicious
circle of corruption with a virtuous circle of accountability.

And to realise this, probably, we need to change ourselves and by example we
might effect a change in the community at large.

The future, Madam Speaker, according to John Schaar is not a result of
choices among alternative paths offered by the present but a place that is
created first in mind next in will then in activity. The future, he contends,
is not some place we are going to but a place we are creating. The paths are
not to be discovered but made and the activity of making the future changes
both the maker and the destination.

Madam Speaker, it is with this reasoning that I present the 2006/2007
departmental budget hoping that each Rand that we receive, as a Department,
will be “sowed “in a manner that will have a ripple effect especially on our
learners. And as we do this we will be creating the future for the next
generation.

Programme one: Administration (R424, 924 million)

Madam Speaker, The North West Education Department is increasingly gaining a
hold over its financial management. We are increasingly spending more
effectively and efficiently. We are indeed part and parcel of what the
honourable Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, calls our
country’s entry into the “Age of Hope.” In her State of the Province address,
our Premier, the honourable Edna Molewa echoed this as the “season of hope.” We
are extremely privileged to be called upon to deliver during this age and in
particular within the spirit of the Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative for
South Africa (AsgiSA).

During the past financial year, as I promised, an Internal Audit Directorate
that is currently 75 percent staffed has been established. To assist this
directorate an audit committee has also been established.

The Departmental Procurement Committee (DPC) has been established and held
11 meetings over the period ending in December 2005. As our contribution to the
Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) policy, the Department has
adopted as standing procedure, the linking of small and medium contractors to
establish companies not exceeding the ratio 70/30.This is intended to improve
the risk profile of the small contractors.

The disruptions at the warehouse and the investigations that occurred
towards the end of the 2004/5 financial year derailed our preparations for the
annual audit. This resulted in the Department not being able to respond
adequately to issues raised by the Auditor-General which led to an unfortunate
disclaimer.

Clear action is now being taken as the Department prepares for the 2006
audit. Each manager is reporting monthly on challenges experienced which
enables all the members of the department to advise in this regard. The
Potchefstroom Warehouse has been reconfigured and this new model will be
duplicated to all the regions to take effect on 1 April 2007. This year,
2006/7, will see the refinement of the model and preparations for the intended
expansion.

The honourable President Thabo Mbeki promised that one of the interventions
that government will do this year is “eliminating fees for the poorest quintile
of primary schools.” Responding to this imperative, in our province, all
schools in quintiles one and two have been declared “no fee” schools. Each of
them will receive a minimum of R527 per learner for the year as part of
implementing the Adequacy Funding Policy.

Human resource management

Madam Speaker, the Department successfully balanced the demand and supply of
educators in schools. Through the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)
consultation process with employee organisations, it was agreed that the
Department could afford 29 297 educator posts. This is an increase of 552
posts. These posts were distributed to 2 166 learning institutions whilst in
the previous financial year, educator posts were distributed to 2 178 learning
institutions. The Department will finalise human resource (HR) plans for each
of the 2 166 schools. This will eliminate the over-supply of teachers. The
remaining vacancies will then be advertised. During 2005, the Department
released three open vacancy lists advertising 299 promotional posts for
educators and 1 185 educator posts with the date of assumption of duty, 1
January 2006.

Two thousand and fifty six employees have been matched, placed and
redeployed which include the absorption and translation of unqualified teacher
posts to those of administrative assistants. There are 2 127 vacancies for
which an additional amount of R118 million is required. Madam Speaker, I have
also given directives that all temporary educators be absorbed and made
permanent.

The regionalisation of the human resource and finance functions is completed
and the head office will continue to monitor services in the regions. Over R10
million was made available for this activity across all regions. This budget
was completely exhausted.

Through the Employee Wellness Programme (EWP) I have approved the following
policies; occupational health and safety, HIV/AIDS in the workplace and the
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). I also approved the creation of 42
counsellors posts. During this financial year R600, 000 has been allocated for
a service provider which will strengthen the Departmental HIV/AIDS in the
workplace programme.

Madame Speaker, in his 2006 State of the Nation address, President Thabo
Mbeki, again emphasised “a vigorous and wide-ranging skills development
programme.” The Department as we delivered last year and plan to deliver this
year is whole-heartedly dedicated to this endeavour. We fully recognise the
critical role that we play in the realisation of AsgiSA.

The budget allocated for human resource development was R35, 656 million.
With these funds the Department audited the skills of all employees and
developed the departmental workplace skills plan which we submitted to the
Education, Training and Development Practitioners (ETDP) Sector Education and
Training Authority (SETA). With the support of the office of the Premier and
Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority (PSETA), this
directorate implemented three learnerships which involved 237 youth
members.

One thousand one hundred and thirty two educators’ qualifications were
upgraded through the National Professional Diploma in Education (NPDE). This
was done through the North West University and the University of South Africa
(Unisa) at a cost of R15 million. Thirteen thousand five hundred and four
educators will commence with the Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) in
curriculum and professional development at 135 centres across the province at
R10 million. This is managed and facilitated by the North West University.
Three hundred and sixty subject advisors were trained in mentoring and coaching
by Unisa. Two thousand four hundred principals will be trained as mentors and
coaches by Unisa.

Madam Speaker, for employee development, R38, 099 million is allocated and
as part of responding to the call of the Premier in her State of the Province
address an additional R8, 317 million is allocated for skills development.

Departmental communication

During the previous financial year, the Department created the Directorate:
Communications attached to the office of the MEC. Concrete delivery occurred
within the following areas, advertising the MECs activities were done through
the print and audio media. These included launches, official openings of
schools and media briefings.

The key deliverables envisioned for 2006/07 will be the establishment of a
sound corporate identity that will assist in building the “Team Education.” It
will also align all exhibitions and themes to the government’s theme for
2006/07 of an “Age of Hope.” A “Turn Around” communication strategy will be
implemented that will focus on the Department’s external audiences. Here, the
Development Communication Ethos (DCE) will be implemented so that all
activities within the Department are communicated effectively. This will
encourage a mutually beneficial relationship and create a platform of “hope in
education” for the future of all the people involved in education.

Legal advisory services

The Legal Advisory Services Directorate was allocated a budget of R10, 363
million for the 2005/06 fiscal year. The Department has been successful in
expending the allocated budget on administration, litigation and other goods
and services. In the 2006/07 budget year every effort will be made to provide
excellent legal advice to the Department. An allocation of R9, 851 million for
the financial year 2006/07 is made for legal services.

Internal security

Madam Speaker, since the last financial year and as promised in the previous
budget speech the Department has established the Directorate: Minimum Internal
Security Services (MISS) with minimal staffing at this stage. During 2005/06
internal security services received R1 million to deliver their brief. After a
re-adjustment of the budget in September 2006, devices that secure the
information of our Senior Management Team (SMT) meetings were acquired. We are
able to record all proceedings at such meetings.

During 2006/07, MISS will be expanded into all regions. Plans for the full
staffing of regional sections are well underway. For 2006/07, R6, 601 million
is allocated to security services. This includes salaries. During the coming
financial year MISS will deliver mainly on its core business which is physical,
document, information and Information Technology (IT) security.

Programme two: Public ordinary schools education (R5, 322, 468 million)

Curriculum change in our schooling system is well on track. Since 1998,
Outcomes Based Education (OBE) has been successfully implemented in the GET
band. Common Tasks for Assessment (CTA) with minor changes will once again be
used this year. For Further Education and Training (FET), subject assessment
guidelines have been distributed to all schools.

The National Curriculum Statement (NCS), grades R to six was implemented in
2005 at a cost of R2, 891 million. This year the NCS is being implemented in
grades seven and 10 and in this regard all the relevant schools have been fully
supplied with textbooks. During 2006, we will prepare for the implementation of
the NCS in grades eight, nine, 11 and 12. Grades eight, nine and 11 will
implement the NCS in 2007 while grade 12 will be implemented in 2008. The year
2008 will also be the first year that the Further Education and Training
Certificate (FETC) will be awarded.

Madam Speaker, R25 million is allocated towards training for the
implementation of the NCS. Last year, 6500 teachers were trained spending R1, 5
million.

Learner attainment implementation plan

During the 2005 academic year, the North West Education Department
implemented its matric improvement implementation plan containing critical
events and processes that facilitated an effective intervention to improve the
provincial matric results.

The matric intervention strategy was driven and intensely monitored by all
senior managers. Professional Support Forums (PSFs) were established at all
levels with regional curriculum support officials and teachers as members.
These structures focused on improved strategies for teaching and learning. At
Senior Management Team (SMT) meetings, in particular, I took personal interest
in the intensive monitoring of the implementation of the intervention and my
senior managers and I made visits to trapped schools. Trapped schools were also
given additional resources.

During 2006, the Department will implement the Learner Attainment
Implementation Plan (LAIP). An amount of R9 million has been allocated for this
project. This year there will be a special focus on languages because according
to analyses made a disjuncture in language offering between the GET and FET
bands was the main reason why our matric results dropped during 2005.

Institutional development

Twelve new ordinary public schools were registered during the 2005/06
financial year. The Department is critically aware of the very severe
conditions that learners endure at farm and rural schools. Learners walk long
distances to school, sometimes under very bad weather conditions (rain,
scorching heat and extreme cold). Their small farm schools are not conducive to
quality education.

To respond to these challenges, the Department started a process of the
consolidation of schools through mergers to make them more viable as
institutions of learning. As the honourable Premier indicated the North West
Education Department had already embarked upon the following major mergers:
Onkgopotse Tiro and Moedwil. Boon in Bojanala West are being considered for a
mega farm school.

These mergers are attempts to provide learners with the same curriculum,
infrastructural provisioning and staffing, as is the case for learners in urban
schools. In Bojanala East, Marian Middle School was also merged with Tsogo High
School. During this financial year, 2006/7, R5 million has been allocated to
the southern region for the creation of a mega school by merging several farm
schools.

The Department resuscitated the system of contracts with farmers upon whose
land public schools are situated. More than 60 contracts have been signed with
farmers for which R720, 000 was made available. On 24 February 2006, I
personally addressed the farmers at a meeting in Lichtenberg. The farmers were
very positive and co-operative and we agreed to have an improved relationship
henceforth. Madam Speaker, this year I allocate R15 million for the development
of farm and rural education.

School enrichment (sport, arts and culture) with the allocated R 12, 8
million of 2005/06, we promoted mass participation in various sporting and
cultural events. The Department delivered on the choral music, cultural
performances, farm school sport, athletics, rural sport, football, netball,
cross country, girls’ cricket, Transnet farm and rural sport and the
transformation of school sport. The Department has created one sports post in
each of the 21 area project offices.

At the 2005 National Girls’ Games hosted by Gauteng Province at the
University of Witwatersrand on 5 to 8 August 2005, the North West Province
collected six medals; two gold in football and netball, three silver in
basketball, softball and volleyball whilst chess from Schoonspruit High School
received the bronze.

In 2005 at the National Indigenous Music, Dance and Games Festival hosted by
Mpumalanga in Witbank, the provincial cultural group Pampierstadt High School
was awarded the trophy for overall performance, behaviour in and out of the
field, discipline, team work, cleanliness and attire. The North West team once
more continued the domination of the girls 16 and over netball which they have
won six times since 1998.

In 2005, Potchefstroom Girls High obtained 71 percent for the fourth
position in female choral performance. This year in partnership with Motsweding
FM the Provincial School Choral Eisteddfod will be hosted by our central region
in Mafikeng.

For 2005/06, Onkgopotse-Tiro Comprehensive School received equipment for
chess, athletics, indigenous games, volleyball, netball, basketball as well as
playing attire. It is the intention of the Department to provide farm learners
with the same facilities as their counterparts in the urban areas. Madam
Speaker, I would like to thank the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture for
their contribution towards the successful implementation of this project.
During the new financial year, the Department will do the same for Moedwil
School in Bojanala West. The provincial girls’ cricket project which started
last year as a pilot programme is progressing well.

R12, 8 million is allocated to school enrichment programmes for 2006/07

Library services

An amount of R3, 4 million was allocated in 2005/06 for School Library
Multimedia Services (SLMS). This amount covered salaries, resourcing of school
libraries, capacitating staff working in school libraries including teacher
librarians and media advisors, implementing information skills across the
curriculum promoting the culture of reading and lifelong learning in the
schools.

In the 2006/07 financial year the following will be achieved; resourcing of
schools, establishing functional educational and regional libraries,
information skills in schools, capacitating more teacher librarians and media
advisors and reinforcing a culture of reading. We have R4 million which is
allocated for library services. This amount is included in the R12, 85 million
that was allocated for school enrichment programmes.

Quality assurance

Madam Speaker, we conducted systemic evaluation research at grade six using
a sample of 108 schools. This report was launched and released to the members
of the public on 6 February 2006. Of significance in the report is the negative
effect of the language of teaching and learning on the achievement of learners.
Forty out of the 50 schools were evaluated according to the whole school
evaluation programme. School improvement plans were developed based on the
findings of these evaluations.

Madam Speaker, this year we will implement the recommendations of the grade
six systemic evaluation at a cost of R10 million. In this regard, a
comprehensive implementation plan has already been crafted. In June 2006, both
the national Department of Education and the province will be conducting
systemic evaluation studies at grade three level. All educators have been
trained on the Integrated Quality Management Systems (IQMS) and the Performance
Management Development Systems (PMDS). IQMS and PMDS receive an allocation of
R1, 784 million and EDSCs, R15 million.

The Education Management and Governance Development (EMGD) programme saw the
training of school principals, Senior Management Teams (SMT) and educators on
strategic planning, finance and classroom management. During May and June 2006,
School Governing Body (SGB) elections will be held and facilitated by the
Department.

The special intervention for mathematics, science and technology
education

Honourable Madam Speaker, our province commits its support to the
president’s aspiration of doubling the maths and science graduate output by
2008. Our participation in the national Dinaledi programme is our contribution
towards this goal. On 19 November 2005, I launched the expansion of the
Dinaledi initiative in the province. I announced the increase of these schools
from seven to 50. Forty of these schools will receive funding from the national
Department of Education and 10 will be supported provincially.

In transforming these schools into dedicated mathematics and science
schools, the Department of Education will provide them with the following
resources; science labs, permanent qualified staff, libraries and media centres
just to mention a few.

Madam Speaker, the Department is implementing the Girl Learner Intervention
Programme (GLIP). Girls throughout the province will be exposed to high level
intensive supplementary tuition during 17 Saturdays, study camps during the
autumn and winter and spring school holidays. In addition to the supplementary
tuition, women role models in the sciences will be called to motivate the
girls.

Last year, I announced that we will focus on improving teacher
qualifications in this key subject. To achieve this we implemented provincial
mathematics and science clinics across the five regions. Over 700 mathematics
and science educators were capacitated in this regard.

For the special intervention for mathematics, science and technology, Madam
Speaker, I allocate for 2006/07 R14, 893 million. This amount includes a
special allocation for science kits of R6 million.

Madam Speaker, I wish to request you and the honourable house to join me as
I pay special tribute to two young girl-scientists from this province that were
selected to represent South Africa at two international science competitions.
They are Roelien Blom and Gweneth Sedupane. Roelien returned to South Africa
from Taiwan on 19 February after competing with boys and girls her age at the
International Science Fair. Gweneth will fly to Spain in July also to represent
South Africa at the European Science Expo.

Primary school nutrition programme

The honourable Premier, Edna Molewa, mentioned our responsibility as regards
the National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP). In her State of the Province
address, she indicates this programme is important to “ensure that our learners
do not have to study on empty stomachs.“ She further indicates that we must
focus on the farm school child.

During 2005/06, the NSNP received R79, 357 million and an additional R8, 25
million as a rollover from National Treasury. A further R7, 2 million from the
Integrated Nutrition Programme (INP) of the Department of Health was handed to
the Department of Education.

From January 2006 the span of the project has been increased to include
grade R to grade seven. This increased the number of learners from 380 385 to
471 975. The number of days for feeding was also extended from four to five.
Thirty Eight educators who were declared in addition were absorbed into the
NSNP. The programme has created employment opportunities for women. Their
involvement increased from 3 007 to 4 720. Ten learnerships presently based
with NSNP will be contracted by NSNP and paid from the conditional grant at R3,
000, 00 per month. The budget allocated for NSNP for 2006/7 is R95, 529
million.

* In addition to the NSNP, Madam Speaker, we are also managing a project on
sustainable food production in schools. Ten schools in Kgalagadi participate in
this project. A further 200 schools, 40 per region, were selected to
participate in the programme. Out of all of these 180 schools have functional
food gardens. Two hundred and ten educators, one per school, were trained on
gardening skills and orange fleshed sweet potato production. To support this
project the national Department of Education purchased a bakkie, fax machine
and a laptop.

School safety

The budget allocation for the project was R1, 8 million in the past
financial year. Services of several service providers were outsourced to
capacitate regional school safety co-ordinators on safety matters to
disseminate the information to school based teams.

Several partnerships made the management of this project possible.
Information sharing sessions driven through the inter-departmental provincial
and local project management teams assisted through capacitating school safety
teams. Compared to last years 55 percent, this year, 80 percent of our schools
have functional and trained school safety teams.

An amount of R2, 2 million will be utilised in this financial year to
implement drug abuse programmes. It will focus on training of youths, SGBs,
Senior Management Teams (SMTs) and the monitoring and support of
participants.

Infrastructure

Madam Speaker, the honourable Premier already mentioned most of our past
achievements in the delivery of infrastructure during the previous financial
year. The Department allocated R255, 471 million for infrastructure. Of this
money R43, 663 million was reserved for maintenance. The Department completed
13 new schools and the Department of Public Works undertook the construction of
13 new schools of which four have been completed. The remaining none will be
completed between April and September 2006.

The Department of Public Works renovated 34 out of 44 schools for R30, 104
million. Twenty six are at various stages of completion. Delivery will be
between April and June 2006. Ninety schools have been provided with new toilets
for an amount of R40 million. An amount of R4, 056 million was used to provide
82 schools with boreholes, a stand, a tank and pumps. One hundred and eighteen
schools were provided with new fencing at an amount of R13, 617 million. Forty
schools were repaired after storm damage. One hundred and forty mobile
classrooms and 210 mobile toilets were provided to 44 schools for an amount of
R14 million.

During the 2006/7 financial year, 26 schools and 85 toilets will be built.
Water will be supplied to 50 schools, renovations will be done at 40 schools
and dysfunctional toilets will be repaired at 50 schools. Further, 50 schools
will be fenced. Day to day maintenance will continue and funds will be set
aside for emergencies. To all of these activities R165, 163 million is made
available.

Information technology

During 2005/06, R14 million was allocated for the computerization of 300
schools which included training of 300 principals. The delivery of this project
is on track.

Over R13 million is allocated to the computerisation of 150 schools during
2006/07. In this regard, during 2006/7, 800 principals and 1 600 educators will
be trained on Information and Communications Technology (ICT). We will further
install school administration and management systems in 1 000 schools and train
two educators from each of the schools. R24, 8 million from the national
Department of Education is available for the EMIS improvement programme.

Programme three: Independent school and home education (R6, 5 million)

An allocation of R6 million was budgeted to provide subsidies to 18 schools
during the financial year 2005/2006. This entire budget was spent for the
planned purpose. One hundred percent of this allocation has been transferred.
During 2006/07, this amount will be increased to R6, 5 million. This year the
Department will regulate independent and home education. The regulations for
home schools will soon be published for public comment.

Programme four: Public special schools education (R120, 077 million)

Honourable Madam Speaker, special schools and inclusive education received
an allocation of R89, 626 million in 2005. This money was intended for the
establishment of a sound conceptual and operational framework on inclusive
education. It was therefore meant to provincialise national policy on inclusive
education, promote access to education for learners with disabilities, provide
for children in conflict with the law, provide an FET resource centre for the
sensory disabled, establish a school for blind learners and upgrade and extend
special schools.

In the 2006/07 financial year, special schools receive an allocation of
R120, 077 million on the running and maintenance of special schools.

Programme five: Further Education and Training (FET) colleges (R106, 403
million)

Madam Speaker, President Mbeki, in his State of the Nation address referred
to the re-equipping and financing of the FET colleges. My Department is already
deeply involved in delivering this programme called the recapitalisation of
FET. With an allocation of R74, 005 million in the 2005/06 budget, the
Department initiated and supported preparations for the recapitalisation of the
FET sector. Strategic plans were developed and aligned to the plans for
recapitalisation.

The FET college programme is critical to accelerated growth. During 2006/07,
FET colleges will receive significant new investment in teaching and learning
resources. These colleges have a strong potential to allow our province to
develop a skilled profile that will support economic growth and social
development.

The FET sector participated actively in the implementation of the Provincial
Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS). Taletso College in conjunction with the
Department of Public Works has been involved in the Modimola Agricultural
Project. Other community programmes include the Umsobomvu Agricultural Training
Programme, Adult Based Education and Training (ABET) expansion and the
anticipated graduate development programme also led by Umsobomvu.

The spending of the allocated R106, 403 million in the FET sector during
2006/07 includes the salaries of staff and learner support which includes
bursaries. This money will also go towards the filling of critical posts in the
colleges.

The Danida programme sponsored by the Danish Embassy is still being
implemented in our province. Last year R7 million was spent on its Strategic
Education Support and Development (SESD) programme. During 2006/7 the Embassy
plans to further spend R7 million on this programme. I would like to extend my
sincere thanks to the Danish Embassy and in particular to Dr Modise Manota who
is the Provincial Technical Advisor (PTA) driving this project.

Programme six: Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) (R95, 537)

Madam Speaker, honourable members, the Adult Basic Education and Training
(ABET) expansion plan that was implemented during the 2005/06 financial year
increased the number of ABET centres to 239 by January 2006. Two hundred and
twenty five belong to the Department of Education and 14 to other government
departments. The enrolment at these centres also increased.

Two hundred and nine literacy units have been opened throughout the
province. Unemployed youth with senior certificates are employed to teach in
each of the literacy units. They receive a stipend of R1, 000 per month.
Training sessions were conducted for the facilitators to enable them to deal
with adult learners.

With regards to the introduction of skills programmes FET colleges were used
as service providers offering bricklaying, plastering, plumbing and carpentry.
These programmes are still running. They will be submitted to the SETA for
accreditation.

The total amount allocated for 2006/07 for the programme is R95, 537 million
of which R35 million is an additional and earmarked for the ABET expansion
project.

Programme seven: Early Childhood Development (ECD) (R152, 510 million)

During 2005/06, R126 million was allocated to Early Childhood Development
(ECD). Approximately 1 600 educators who are teaching grade R at 452 registered
centres were being paid a salary on persal that amounted to R121 million.
Subsidies were allocated to 340 practitioners at community based centres who
were teaching grade R learners. In this regard, a total amount of R4, 08
million was allocated to pay practitioners a subsidy of R1, 000 per month.

Under contract by the national Department of Education, the Siseko-Motheo
consortium trained 360 ECD practitioners. Three hundred and thirteen
practitioners completed the training and received certificates at regional
ceremonies.

In her State of the Province address, the honourable Edna Molewa referred to
the comprehensive plan that we have developed to integrate the ECD into the
public school programme. This is the plan that the departments of education,
social development and health have developed jointly for the Extended Public
Works Programme (EPWP) to provide learning opportunities to 0 - four year olds.
This year, ECD receives R152, 51 million which includes R130, 128 million for
salaries and R17, 901 million for the incorporation of grade R into public
schools and the recapitalisation of the pre-grade R section. Part of this
allocation will be used to contribute to the Premier’s project of Modimong
Village in Greater Taung.

Programme eight: Auxiliary and associated services (R76, 967 million)
HIV/AIDS

Madam Speaker, as per the budget speech of the national Minister for
Finance, Minister Trevor Manual “the HIV/AIDS (life skills) programme grant
provides care and support to children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. In
addition, the grant is spent on the provision of life skills training,
sexuality and HIV/AIDS education in primary and high schools.” This programme
for 2005/06 was funded by a conditional grant of R13, 256 million.

The 2006/07 conditional grant for the life skills HIV/AIDS schools programme
will have a budget of R11, 071 million and will be utilised to roll out the
same activities to the rest of the schools that were not served during
2005/6.

Examinations, assessment, certification and accreditation

Madam Speaker, our matric pass rate dropped from 64,9 percent in 2004 to 63
percent in 2005. Our province enrolled 37 726 full time candidates at 409
examination centres. Despite the drop in the provincial 2005 matric pass rate,
it must be noted that the class of 2005 was the first group of candidates that
participated in the Outcomes Based Education (OBE) curriculum up to grade nine
and was forced back to report 550 (the old curriculum) in grades 10 to 12. This
cohort changed between two different assessment systems but still managed to
maintain reasonably constant results.

Although we were able to break the psychological barrier of 70 percent in
2003, we were not able to sustain the results and thus for 2005 the province
stood at 63 percent. This represents a drop of 1, 9 percent from the results of
2004. However, in most cases the pass rate in the higher grade (HG) subjects
increased while it decreased in the standard grade (SG). This suggests a
quality improvement in the results.

However, I have noted with serious concern that there is still a mammoth
task ahead to improve the 2006 matric results. This is particularly critical as
we usher in the new National Senior Certificate (NSC) in 2008. A plethora of
factors contributed to the 2005 drop and my Department has started to put
systems in place to address this uneasy state of affairs.

Honourable members, the North West Department of Education has again been
hailed by Umalusi and the national Department of Education as one of the best
departments with regard to their conduct and administration of examinations in
general. The reports captured that there were no problems in terms of
examinations conducted in both the public and independent schools
examinations.

The Department managed internally and externally the General Education and
Training Certificate (GETC), ABET level four, grade nine and grade 12
examinations with a budget of R47 million which was allocated for 2005. The
MTEF allocation of R54 million was committed, but only R52 million was used.
The 2006/07 budget for examinations is R52, 384 million.

Our priority for 2006 is to intensify our effort by consolidating all the
processes we have put in place during 2005. We will sensitise our learners and
regional officials regarding the pass requirements of the NSC. Flyers will be
developed by the assessment directorate outlining the rules of combination and
the pass requirements and these will be distributed to all examination
centres.

Conclusion

Madam Speaker, ladies and gentlemen, the Department’s regionalisation
process is still on track. During 2005/6 we prioritised the appointment of
educators in the regions. Having declared last year “The Year of the
Foot-Soldier,” I have gone far in delivering in this regard. However, because
of a limited budget I could not reach the target of 100 percent appointments in
all Area Project Offices (APO). We are, however, proud of some of our exemplary
foot-soldiers. There were three provincial winners from the southern region, Ms
Sonja Coetzer (Laerskool Mooirivier) for Excellence in Primary School Teaching,
Mrs Charmaine Hutton (Central Primary) for Excellence in Early Childhood
Development and Mrs Daphne van Rensburg (Principal of Central Primary,
Potchefstroom) for Lifetime Achievement. Mesdames Coetzer and Hutton went on to
become national winners in their categories for 2005. I applaud them.

Partnerships with the platinum mines appear to be paying off. Marikane
Primary School was built in partnership with Lonmin Platinum and handed over to
the Department. In Moses Kotane East, the following schools were extended,
renovated and handed over to the department by Anglo Platinum on 2 September
2005: Raphurele High School at Welgaval Village, Lerome Middle School at Lerome
Village and Madima Primary School at Manamakgotha Village.

Bophirima managed to forge partnerships with Samancor and the Transnet
Foundation. Samancor Foundation funded a Resource Centre to an amount of R3, 1
million currently under construction at Batlharos Village in Gasegonyana Area
Project Office (APO). Transnet has donated a high school of 24 classrooms,
administration block, library and computer centre at Mmamutla Primary School in
Greater Taung.

In the southern region, Anglo Gold Ashanti funded eleven classrooms
additions to the administration block and a block of toilets at Inyathelo
Primary School in Orkney.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank these companies for their
support.

Bophirima has on continuous basis engaged former model C schools on the
racial integration of staff, learners and school governing bodies. Much
progress occurred with learners and school governing bodies. However, the
integration of school staff is gaining momentum. Vryburg High School has
African teachers as part of management. Stellaland Primary School appointed an
African HOD this year. Four schools are left to make a start in this
regard.

Madam Speaker, at this juncture I wish with the same breath to thank the
honourable Premier and other colleagues in the Executive Council (ExCo) and the
legislature, particularly, the Portfolio Committee on Education, all our
stakeholders and my senior managers and staff for having stood by me during the
rather painful journey we had to travel last year and also call upon them to
join the band wagon and lend their collective might to the just course to bring
relief to the masses of our people.

For according to Albert Pine, “what we have done for ourselves alone dies
with us. What we have done for others and the world remains and is
immortal.”

So let us not stand aloof, for it is said “the greatest sin of our time is
not that of the few who have destroyed, but the many who have watched on
idly.”

Ke a leboga, dankie, thank you! May the Almighty bless us!

Issued by: Department of Education, North West Provincial Government
18 May 2006
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za/)