in the National Assembly
6 June 2007
"There is currently no new salary scale for educators. I have, however,
consulted with the Council of Education Ministers on an incentive scheme," the
Minister of Education said, answering oral questions in the National Assembly
today.
The Minister answered five questions. They dealt with student fees, school
discipline, no-fee schools, the religion in education policy and incentives for
scarce-skills posts.
Question 147
Ms PR Mashangoane African National (ANC) to ask the Minister of
Education:
Whether her department has been informed that some of the schools regarded
as no-fee schools have not received their allocated budgets; if so, what are
the relevant details?
Reply:
No, my department has not been formally informed of any no-fee school that
has not received its school allocation. However, during my visit to some
schools in April 2007, a school principal indicated to me that his school had
not received its school allocation. My department contacted the province and
rectified the matter.
Prior to the implementation of no-fee schools on Monday, 1 January 2007, my
department provided guidelines to provincial education departments on funding
no-fee schools. Since then my department has been assured on numerous occasions
that all provinces have made all necessary arrangements to minimise the impact
of the transition to no-fee schools where schools had been dependent on
receiving an income from school fees. I have on numerous occasions encouraged
MECs to ensure that no school is put under financial pressure as a result of
the implementation of the no-fee policy.
Question 148
Ms JMM Matsomela (ANC) to ask the Minister of Education:
1. Whether her department will intervene after some institutions of higher
learning raised fees by 20%, far above inflation of five percent; if not, why
not; if so, what are the relevant details?
2. Whether the registration fee is discriminating against poor learners; if so,
what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. No, it is the responsibility of higher-education institutions to
determine their own tuition fees. However, I remain concerned at the rate of
increase in the fees of some of our universities and I have encouraged vice
chancellors, in public and private, to set fee increases that are moderate and
reasonable.
2. All students at public universities pay a registration fee prior to
enrolment. However, students who are allocated financial aid through National
Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are not required to pay up-front
registration fees as this is included in their bursaries.
Question 149
Prof SM Mayatula (ANC) to ask the Minister of Education:
Whether school communities, school governing bodies (SGBs) and parents in
general understand the policy on religion and its distinction between religion
education, religious education and religious observation; if not, why not; if
so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
I cannot speak for any of the constituency's communities, SGBs, parents the
Honourable Member refers to, but I can say that the Department of Education has
disseminated materials on the policy to these constituencies. And of course,
the policy is integrated into the Life Orientation learning area in the
national curriculum.
However, I have heard that a number of schools are struggling with the
religion in education policy. Apparently Christianity is taught as the only
'true' religion and there are teachers who teach an uncritical creationism.
It is important to realise this policy demands a mind-shift in many of our
communities. Creating an environment where a comparative approach to religion
is understood will take time and will not be solved by workshops but through
national public debate.
Question 155
Mr GG Boinamo Democratic Alliance (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:
Whether any progress has been made with the implementation of new salary
scale for educators based on the need for particular skills rather than
qualifications and experience; if not, why not, what obstacles have been
encountered in this regard and what steps have been taken to overcome these
obstacles; if so, (i) what are the key components of this scheme likely to be,
(ii) what successes have been achieved, (iii) what obstacles remain and (iv)
what is the time frame for the implementation of such a system?
Reply:
There is currently no new salary scale for educators. I have however
consulted with the Council of Education Ministers on an incentive scheme.
(i) The key components of the new scheme are that all posts in targeted
remote areas and poor schools are identified for incentives as well as posts
for scarce subjects such as maths and science in schools identified by
provincial education Heads of Department. Occupants of these posts receive an
allowance and have to sign a contract, with conditions. The allowance is paid
for a period of one year with the possibility of an extension, dependent on the
decision by the provincial Head of Department. The allowance is estimated at
between R 9 000 to R10 000 per annum.
(ii) The Council of Education Ministers has approved the proposal. Presently
it is under consideration in the Cabinet Mandate Committee for approval.
(iii) None.
(iv) As soon as mandating and negotiations have been finalised.
Question 186
Mr GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:
1 Whether any representations were received from educators, principals or
other concerned groups indicating that current measures available to educators
to maintain discipline in schools are inadequate; if so, (a) what are the
relevant details and (b) what action has been taken in this regard?
2. Whether any new policy interventions are contemplated relating to
discipline in classrooms; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. Complaints have been received through the national department's toll free
line and through provincial call centres.
a. The main complaint is that the banning of corporal punishment has led to
a decline in discipline. However, we know that corporal punishment is
regrettably practiced in many schools. The widespread use of corporal
punishment is in direct contravention of the law.
b. The Department of Education has developed training materials that have
been widely disseminated. In addition an advocacy campaign on positive forms of
discipline is running on South African Broadcasting Corporation Television
(SABC TV) 'Beyond the Classroom' and through 13 SABC radio stations
broadcasting in all 11 official languages. A talk show format allows all
stakeholders involved in the keeping positive discipline in schools to engage
in the issue.
(2) The department believes that policy in place is adequate to address the
issue of classroom discipline. In this regard, the department is intensifying
the campaign against the use of corporal punishment in school and classroom and
is redesigning the approach used to make it more accessible to all educators.
The focused attention on the continued use of corporal punishment in schools
complements the broader drive to improve the way that teachers prepare their
lessons and the interest and excitement that they generate in their class
through their teaching style and content. A teacher who motivates learners and
captures their imagination does not usually have discipline problems.
Issued by:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: 012 312 5538
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: ngqengelele.l@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education
6 June 2007
Source: Department of Education (http://www.education.gov.za)
