Assembly
7 March 2007
"Given that further court action is pending, the Ermelo matter is sub
judice. I will speak on the matter in this House once the case is finalised.
All I can say is that as far as I am aware learners continue to be taught in a
language of their choice," the Minister of Education said, answering oral
questions in the National Assembly today.
The Minister was prepared to answer seven questions. They dealt with
mother-tongue education, student fee increases in higher education, furniture
provision in schools, the school nutrition programme, an intervention at
Sejankabo High School, subject adviser posts in Limpopo and no-fee schools.
Question 37
Adv AH Gaum to ask the Minister of Education:
What is her department's position with regard to mother-tongue education, with
specific reference to a certain high school (name furnished)?
Reply:
The Department of Education, through the language in education policy,
encourages learners to learn in their mother tongue. Learners in public schools
have a right to choose any of the eleven official languages:
* as a language of learning and teaching
* as a subject from Grade 3 onwards.
With the intention of promoting indigenous languages, the department also
encourages all learners to have studied an African language for three years by
the end of Grade 9. Given that further court action is pending, the Ermelo
matter is sub-judice. I will speak on the matter in this House once the case is
finalised. All I can say is that as far as I am aware learners continue to be
taught in a language of their choice.
Question 38
Ms MJJ Matsomela to ask the Minister of Education:
What steps have been taken to ensure that fee increases (a) at higher education
institutions are not excessive and (b) do not discriminate against poor
students?
Reply:
(a) There is currently no government policy that regulates student fees at
higher education institutions. The determination of a fee structure is the
responsibility of the councils of higher education institutions. I have,
however on a number of occasions raised my concerns about escalating fees.
In this regard I directed my department to work jointly with the National
Treasury to investigate the macro funding for higher education. This report
highlighted, among a number of issues, the need for further investment in
higher education to minimise the impact of rising fees on access to higher
education. In addition, I have requested the Vice Chancellors of higher
education institutions, through Higher Education South Africa (HESA), to
investigate the primary drivers that lead to the high fee increases. The
department will continue to work with the National Treasury and higher
education institutions to develop a sustainable solution to the problem.
(b) The government is committed to assisting financially needy but
academically deserving students through the National Student Financial Aid
Scheme (NSFAS). In this regard, the current government contribution, including
loan repayments to the NSFAS is over R1,2 billion. In addition, students who
are allocated financial aid through NSFAS are not required to pay up-front
registration fees as this is included in their bursary.
Question 39
Mr B G Mosala to ask the Minister of Education:
1. What is the status of the School Nutrition Programme?
2. Whether there are any plans to extend this scheme to secondary school
learners; if not, why not; if so, what plans?
Reply:
1. The national school nutrition scheme is proceeding well in most
provinces. The Eastern Cape has faced some challenges, but these have been
addressed and children are once again being provided with school meals.
2. The Northern Cape and the Western Cape have extended the programme to some
secondary schools. The Western Cape provides school meals to 21 000 learners in
116 quintile one and two secondary schools, while the Northern Cape provides
school meals to 59 862 learners in 101 quintile one and two secondary
schools.
In collaboration with the Financial and Fiscal Commission, the department
has undertaken research into the feasibility of extending the nutrition
programme to all secondary school learners. A report is currently being
finalised.
Question 40
Ms MJJ Matsomela to ask the Minister of Education:
1. Whether she has been informed of the (a) need for urgent intervention into
the situation at Sejankabo High School in Mafikeng and (b) poor performance at
this school in the 2006 matric examinations; if so
2.whether the anomalies reported by the Portfolio Committee on Public Service
and Administration during their oversight visit at the said school in 2005
contributed to the poor performance at the said school; if so, what are the
relevant details?
3. Whether she will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
1. No, I have not been informed of the situation at Sejankabo High School,
but I became aware of the situation from media reports.
2. Yes, the problems at the school clearly contributed to its poor performance
in matric.
3. Yes, I am happy to report that MEC Tselapedi has intervened decisively. On
Thursday, 22 February 2007, a team from the Department of Education visited the
school and confirmed that action had been taken. A new management team has been
appointed, a new school governing body elected, and the school has drafted a
school improvement plan, which is being closely monitored by the acting
Principal. The MEC has undertaken to make regular visits to the school to
monitor progress.
Question 56
Mr GG Boinamo to ask the Minister of Education:
1 When did the fee-free schools policy become effective?
2.Whether any situation arose in any province where the policy was implemented
before the necessary funds from the national budget had been deployed; if so,
(a) which provinces were affected, (b) why did this situation arise and (c)
what steps were taken to resolve this situation?
Reply:
1. The policy became effective on Monday, 1 January 2007.
2. No situation arose. The allocation for non-personnel non-capital expenditure
in no-fee schools is funded from the provincial allocation for public ordinary
schools. The decision over no-fee schools, and particularly the decision over
what proportion of learners to accommodate in no-fee schools, was made after
extensive consultation with provinces and after explicitly considering the
matter of affordability.
Question 57
Mr GG Boinamo to ask the Minister of Education:
1. Why are only 300 out of the 2 700 vacant posts for subject advisors in
Limpopo filled
2. Whether she has taken any steps to fill the other 2 400 vacant posts; if
not, why not; if so, what steps?
3. Whether she has taken any steps to fast-track the reconstruction of 2 900
school in Limpopo in order to solve the current overcrowding problem; if not,
why not, if so, what steps?
4. Whether, in light of the current education crisis that exists in Limpopo,
she remains committed to provide all children with basic education; if so, what
steps have been taken in this regard?
Reply:
1. Limpopo has recently created 400 subject-adviser posts, which have been
advertised and are currently being filled.
2. In an ideal scenario in future Limpopo plans to have 2 400 posts for subject
advisers, based on one subject adviser per subject in each circuit. This would
mean one subject adviser would be responsible for approximately 30
schools.
3. Since 1994 Limpopo has spent approximately R450 million on building schools
annually. The programme of building new schools or rebuilding old ones will
continue in Limpopo at a cost of approximately R500 million in the current
financial year.
4. I am not aware of any education crisis in Limpopo. I remain committed to
providing quality basic education to all children.
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: (012) 312 5538
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mails: ngqengelele.l@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education
7 March 2007
