N Pandor on launch of School Governing Body elections

5 May 2006

This year in May and June, all public schools will be expected to elect
members of their School Governing Bodies. The last elections were held in 2003.
This is the fourth election since the new public system came into effect in
1997. For the first time the May and June 2006 elections will occur at the same
time nationally and provincial Education departments must ensure that these
elections are in line with the National Guidelines for School Governing Body
Elections.

Parents, educators and members of staff who are not educators should stand
for election and vote for their children’s future. Their vote will help to
ensure that public schools adhere to the values of democracy, transparency,
non-racism, non-sexism, accountability and responsibility.

These elections are the third largest democratic process in this country
after the local and national elections. There are 25 582 public schools in
South Africa and more than a million parents will participate during the
election of School Governing Bodies. There are nearly 200 000 seats that need
to be filled in these School Governing Body elections.

Officials from national and provincial departments of Education, the
Independent Electoral Commission and independent service providers will observe
elections in schools to report on the conduct of the election and on the future
improvement of School Governing Body elections.

The slogan for the 2006 election is ‘Vote for your child’s future’
symbolising the relationship between involvement in the election either as a
voter or candidate, and the effective governance of schools, which in turn has
a positive impact on the education of learners.

Enquiries: Tommy Makhode
Cell: 082 566 0446

Issued by: Department of Education
5 May 2006