Tsopo, Free State Provincial Legislature
19 March 2007
Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker,
Honourable Premier, Me Beatrice Marshoff,
Honourable Members of the Executive Council,
Members of the Free State Legislature,
Members of the House of Traditional Leaders,
Mayors and Councillors,
Members of Management of the Free State Department of Education,
Members of Teacher Organisations,
Representatives of the Private and Business Sector,
Departmental Officials,
Principals and Educators,
All our Social Partners,
Esteemed guests,
Representatives of learners,
Media representatives,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear comrades and friends
Introduction
In March 1995, the first Minister of Education in the new Democratic South
Africa, Professor Sibusiso Bhengu, had this to say in his foreword to the White
Paper on Education and Training "that Education and Training are central
activities of our society. They are of vital interest to every family and to
the health and prosperity of our national economy. The Government's policy for
education and training is therefore a matter of national importance second to
none."
Honourable Speaker he went further to say "Our message is that education and
training must change. It cannot be business as usual in our schools, colleges,
technikons and universities. The national project of reconstruction and
development compels everyone in education and training to accept the challenge
of creating a new system which cultivates and liberates the talents of all our
people without exception."
Speaker, as I will present today's budget vote speech, it will be the
expression of the commitment the Department of Education made since 1995 when
we started the process of transforming education and training in this
country.
As the Free State Department of Education informed by the White Paper on
Education and Training of 1995 which was a clear road map for education
transformation we are proud to say the department is on course.
Speaker, I must remind everyone present today that education is a contested
terrain, as it is through education that the envisaged integrated society based
on the democratic values of equality, non-racialism and non-sexism can be
achieved. The detractors of this vision will also use education to undermine
the progressive work the Education Department has done and continues to do.
As our education system is founded on the concrete progressive foundation,
our challenge today is to follow the road map towards sustainable frontline
service for quality education. Our department, Speaker, as part of government
has a responsibility to provide sustainable quality education through our
frontline service institutions which are our schools, learning institutions and
District Offices. Service delivery to us will have been rendered if there is
optimal learning and teaching taking place at all our institutions, which is
primarily our core business. With this budget vote speech we express how we
will create conducive conditions, for the doors of learning and culture to be
opened to all.
The main purpose of this Budget Vote speech is to highlight the strategic
priorities of the Free State Department of Education and indicate how we are
going to resource them. These are premised on the provincial priorities as
announced by the Premier during the State of the Province Address. We recognise
that our department, being the largest and one that consumes a larger part the
provincial budget, is charged with the responsibility of leading in addressing
its priorities.
It is from background that I do present the 2007/08 Departmental Budget Vote
with the unflinching conviction that it will be able to address the many
inadequacies and deficiencies in the department to bring about the much
cherished relief and hope to our learners.
Our theme for this financial year is "The Road Map towards Sustainable
Frontline Service for Quality Education."
Achievements
Honourable Speaker, I stood on this platform last year promising this House
that we will boldly deal with our challenges. Key and central to those were
systems, structures and administrative arrangement that did not serve us well
in some way. I am happy to report what we have achieved in the 2006/07
financial year.
* an Internal Audit Directorate was established to improve risk management and
the internal control environment and enhance good governance
* the Department has implemented a South African Schools Administration
Management System (SA-SAMS) in 400 schools
* the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) was implemented in both Section 21
and Non-Section 21 schools.
A total of 6 712 senior phase educators in the Guaranteed Education Tuition
(GET) band were successfully orientated to implement NCS, while another 4 593
educators of grade 11 and 12 (Further Education Training band) were
successfully trained for the NCS. The department completed Marematlou Secondary
School in Virginia, Hlaboloha Primary School in Bothaville, Mokgwabong Primary
School in Welkom, J C Motumi Secondary School in Odendaalsrus, Tumisang Primary
School in Senekal and Tshepano III Primary School in Fouriesburg will be
finalised by the end of the 2007/08 financial year.
The department started with the construction of Dr MG Mngoma Primary in
Welkom, E E Monese Secondary in Senekal, Mautse Primary in Rosendal and
Kopanong Secondary School in Bloemfontein and Kgotso-Uxolo in Reitz.
* As part of our contribution to job creation through the Expanded Public
Works Programme (EPWP), a total of 592 schools were successfully renovated in
collaboration with School Governing Bodies at a cost of R70,7 million. A total
of 4 586 people were employed in the process.
* The department awarded 85 bursaries to deserving learners.
* Awarded bursaries to 660 Further Education Training (FET) College students,
after the first registration cycle, from the allocated R 6,6 million.
* 92 college council appointees who are educators have been permanently
appointed in the departmental posts.
* 11 new National Qualifications Framework (NQF) aligned programmes are
implemented at the four FET Colleges as from January 2007.
Other partnerships
A partnership with Kagiso Trust has led to the participation of 10 secondary
schools in Thabo Mofutsanyana in the Beyers Naude Schools Development
Programme. It involves an integrated intervention at secondary schools in order
to improve the overall performance at under-performing schools. It is valued at
R15,68 million over a three year period. This will be funded jointly by the two
partners.
Through its partnerships with the private sector, the department managed to
source funding from 32 companies and individuals to the value of approximately
R 80 million to provide uniforms and support to vulnerable learners across the
province.
Partners like Vodacom, FNB, ABSA, Toshiba and Maskew Miller and Dr Thys
supported other events of the department like the Grade 12 Well-Done function,
the Public Servants Excellence Awards, early childhood development (ECD), as
well as the World Teachers Day celebrations. Telkom Foundation for the
partnership in maths, science and technology, Hospital Management System for
construction, Transnet for their donation of R2 million for assistance at
Nthuthuzelo Primary School in Bultfontein as well as helping in upgrading the
Education Resource Centres
Honourable Speaker, I am humbled and honoured to present to this democratic
legislature the education policies, priorities and budget for the financial
year 2007/08.
A solid foundation has been laid, and our policies serve to broaden access
to education and training, thus put us in a strong position to play a pivotal
role in the National Human Resource Development Strategy.
Programme 1
1. Administration
The objective of administration is to provide overall management of the
education system in accordance with the National Education Policy Act, the
Public Finance Management Act, and other policies.
The overall budget for Administration for 2007/08 is R453 146 million.
1.1 Human Resource Systems
An electronic Human Resource Management Information System will be developed
that will enable our staff to fully and effectively utilise the Persal system
and improve the process of filling of posts. This is part of the initiative to
modernise our human resource systems and practices and to operate in an
efficient and sustainable manner, particularly for our front-line staff.
The department has also identified the need for 100 peer or class assistants
for foundation phase; 21 teacher assistants at special schools and 100
Information and Technology officers for schools. R14 million has been set aside
for funding of unfunded posts at districts and head office. R2 850 million has
been set aside for the filling of support staff posts at schools.
1.2 Human Resource Development
The department's Human Resource Development Plan was developed in a way that
supports the direction of skills development and is also in line with the
equity targets of the department. In accordance with the Skills Development
Levy Act and Skills Development Act, the department set aside 1% of its
personnel budget to provide training and development programmes as identified
through the Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) and
Integrated
Quality Management System (IQMS) processes to its employees.
The Skills Levy allocation of R32 969 million was therefore used for payment
of 897 part-time bursaries allocated to educators; 209 part-time bursaries were
allocated to public servants; accredited courses for educators, public servants
and payment of learnerships.
1.3 Educator Development
Honourable Speaker, Educator Development and support has been identified and
singled out as key and central to the improvement of education. In its
allocation for the current budget the Department has targeted Educator
Development in a much more improved way. We have earmarked R4 million for
Educator Development.
As a department we have decided to meet all the unqualified and
under-qualified educators in the province. The project planned for 2007 is to
physically address those educators (who fall under the two categories. The aim
is to ensure that in each school in the Free State we have fully qualified
educators. 500 bursaries will be allocated for 2008.
1.4 Education Management and Information Systems (EMIS)
The EMIS improvement project aims to improve the quality of education
management information system. The department is in the process of rolling out
a Learner Unit Record and Tracking System (LURITS) that will allow the
department to keep track of all individual learners and learner movement in the
province and in the Republic of South Africa.
R3 million has been set aside for this sub-programme.
1.5.1 Rollout of hardware
The department has set aside R36 million to provide hardware, including the
replacement of equipment to schools as indicated below.
e-Education will furthermore provide :
* technical end user support
* Information Communication Technology (ICT) training for 500 office-based
officials, including learning area facilitators
* support for ICT curriculum integration by training 1 000 educators on ICT
skills.
The department will establish computer centres in 28 primary schools at a
cost of R7,28 million. Six secondary schools without computers will also
benefit from this project at an additional R1,56 million. Twenty-five combined
and intermediate farm schools with more than 100 learners will also benefit at
an additional R4 million. Seventy-one schools that introduced Computer
Applications Technology in 2006 will get a second computer centre to
accommodate expansion of the subjects to Grade 11 in 2007 and Grade 12 in 2008.
R18,460 million has been earmarked for this process. Schools for learners with
special needs also require dedicated computer centres. These will be
established in 10 schools at a cost of R3,4 million.
As part of this project, the department will also provide administrative
support to schools. One hundred and eight schools, made up of 54 primary and 54
secondary schools will each get two computers and a printer, which will cost
the Department R1,3 million.
1.5.2 Connectivity
A total of 145 schools will be connected in accordance with the 3G obligations
that all telecommunication service providers have to comply with as regulated
by the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA).
Programme 2
2. Public ordinary schools
Honourable Speaker, the objective of public ordinary schools is to provide
education from Grades 1 to 12 in accordance with the South African Schools Act
of 1996. The largest portion of the department's budget is allocated to this
programme whose main aim is to improve teaching and learning, which is the core
of the department. This will be done by resourcing, maintaining, monitoring and
supporting schools both professionally and administratively in line with the
existing legislation.
R4 318 895 billion has been allocated for this purpose.
2.1 No Fee Schools
To improve access to quality education the department has abolished school fees
in all schools in quintile one (poorest schools) in 2006. 1 160 schools and 221
950 learners representing 34% of learners, benefited from this national
priority. The allocation per learner was R703,00 which was above the national
adequacy level of R527,00 per learner. This has been increased to R721,00 in
2007.
For 2007 the no fee schools have been extended to include all schools in
quintile
2. Fifteen thousand three hundred (15 300) learners in 204 schools are under
quintile two. A grand total number 375 750 learners and 1 364 schools which
translates to a cumulative percentage of 57,7% of the total number of learners
will benefit from the programme. The per learner allocation for quintile two
has been increased in 2007 from R516 to R597 per learner.
2.2. Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM)
To further enhance access to quality education, the department provides free
LTSM through allocation per learner to schools. An amount of R181 million has
been allocated to all Public Ordinary Schools in this regard. This earmarked
amount is for schools to purchase school stationary, textbooks and subject
materials according to the needs at both Section 21 and non-section 21
schools.
2.3 National Curriculum Statement (NCS)
The introduction of the National Curriculum Statement provides the basis for
curriculum transformation and educational development in South Africa. If
curriculum transformation is to be achieved, all learners in the Free State
have to be educationally affirmed through the implementation of the NCS. The
NCS aims to develop a high level of knowledge and skill in learners to prepare
them for progression into higher education and entry into the world of
work.
The NCS is currently being implemented in Grades 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, where 4
593 educators were successful trained during the 2006 school holidays.
Additional training will be provided to Grades 11 and 12 educators during the
2007 school holidays with a focus on subject specific content and assessment.
For this purpose an amount of R6 million has been allocated.
2.3. Governance and Governance Councils
To enhance good governance and participation of stakeholders in education,
an
amount of R9 million has been earmarked for this sub-programme.
School Governing Bodies (SGB) elections were held in July 2006. The training
of 75 trainers consisting of principals and SMGDs was completed on 1 November
2006. The trainers are currently training the 7 364 SGBs members in all
districts.
To improve learner participation in education development and governance,
all Representative Councils of Learners (RCLs) will be trained from May 2007 in
partnership with the Youth Commission. Other Councils will also be capacitated
in the next financial year.
2.4 Sustainable Matric Intervention Strategy (SMIS)
Honourable Speaker, last year our Senior Certificate Examination results
dropped from 77,8% in 2005 to 72,2%. This is a decline by a disappointing 5,6%.
The province further dropped from position three to position four, coming after
the Western Cape, Gauteng and Northern Cape. This is a real cause for concern
because we had hoped for a better position.
As the Free State Department of Education we have come up with a Sustainable
Matric Intervention Strategy (SMIS) to address the shortcomings experienced in
2006.
The focus will be on all schools below the 50% benchmark, schools with a
decline of more than 5%, as well as schools that fluctuate in performance over
a period of five years. More importantly, the SMIS is based on an understanding
that the school remains the central place for the execution of the core mandate
of the Free State Department of Education. In this connection, Executive
Management under the leadership of the MEC and Head of Department (HOD) have
already visited all districts from January to February 2006 to meet the School
Management Teams from all under-performing and fluctuating schools for a
discussion on the implementation of School Improvement Plans. To ensure
implementation R2,5 million has been set aside.
Honourable Speaker, to ensure higher level of standards, we are going to
introduce common examinations for Grade 11s at the end of this year. This is
another way of preparing our Grade 11s for the challenges of Grade 12.
2.5 School Beautification and Incentives for Schools
The School Beautification project started in 2005 in partnership with the
Greening Project of the Free State Botanical Gardens and South African National
Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). It is intended to ensure that an atmosphere
conducive to teaching, learning and safety is created and prevailing at schools
by improving the appearance, atmosphere and environment of institutions of
learning. 100 primary schools and 50 secondary schools will be awarded prizes
for the initiative.
2.6 Quality Improvement and Development Strategy (QIDS UP)
The aim of the Qids Up project is to address infrastructure needs in previously
disadvantaged schools. The aim is to equip schools and utilise them as centres
of extensive learning and skilling. Needy schools in Quintile one and two will
be targeted for this purpose. The project will assist the identified schools
with the provision of fully equipped library resources, laboratories, office
equipment, supplies and materials including computers, printers and faxes.
Fifty-one schools have been identified in two districts: 26 in Lejweleputswa
and 25 in Thabo Mofutsanyana districts.
2.7 Safety in Schools
Honourable Speaker, the safety of learners and educators in our schools is not
only the responsibility of the Free State of Education (DoE). Collectively, we
each have to contribute to the success of the above mission.
The Premier, in her 2007 State of the Province Address elaborated on how as
government, we will comprehensively address the issues of crime in the
province.
The department has launched the Tiisa Thuto Project in partnership with the
Department of Safety, Security and Liaison and Business against Crime South
Africa in June 2006.Seventy one schools are currently participating in the
project. I am pleased to announce that safety committees are being established
in all schools to sustain the project.
2.8 Infrastructure Development
The Infrastructure Development Plan for 2007/08 focuses on the elimination of
platooning through the building of new schools, the elimination of
overcrowding, the provisioning of additional basic educational facilities as
well as the provisioning of basic services (water, sanitation and electricity)
to schools. The major capital programme includes the following projects:
a. The construction of five new schools:
* Kamohelo Primary (Phase 6) in Bloemfontein
* Phahamisanang Primary in Virginia
* Iphateleng Primary School in Wesselsbron
* Kopanelang Thuto (Iraq) Primary School in Sasolburg
* Kahobotjha-Saâkubusha Secondary School in Sasolburg
b.The construction of 12 new school halls will take place in Hoopstad,
Thaba-Nchu, Bethlehem, Vrede, Zastron, Rouxville, Frankfort, Clocolan,
Soutpan,
Ladybrand, Odendaalsrus and Villiers.
c. The construction of additional facilities like classrooms, toilets,
administration blocks will be provided at a further 31 schools across the
province.
R199,7 million will be spend on these projects.
The minor capital projects: A total of 335 schools will be receiving basic
services (water, sanitation and electricity), renovations, conversions for the
disabled, kitchens to support the departmental nutrition programme, fencing as
well as conversion of existing rooms into computer laboratories. R39,6 million
will be spent.
The provisioning of basic services will be implemented in partnership with
the
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) as well as the Department of
Local Government and Housing. The rest of the minor capital programmes will be
implemented through the EPWP programme in collaboration with School Governing
Bodies. In order to enhance community involvement in school maintenance,
provision has been made to continue with the Letsema programme at 100 schools
across the province to the value of R1,5 million. An amount of R7 million has
also been allocated for day-to-day maintenance at schools.
2.9 Public Private Partnership (PPP)
The delivery of infrastructure through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to
further eliminate platooning and overcrowding is in an advanced stage. The
department has presented its Feasibility Study to the National Treasury and is
anticipating the granting of approval by National Treasury to proceed with the
procurement phase by the end of March 2007. This project would include the
construction of 10 new schools, the upgrading of 24 existing schools, the
upgrading of four FET college campuses, the upgrading of Jimmy Roos Industrial
School as well as the development of a Reform School.
Programme 3
3. Independent schools
Mr Speaker, the South African Schools Act enables my office to grant subsidies
to independent schools provided that acceptable standards are maintained.
Failure to maintain acceptable standards could result in a school being
deregistered. Independent schools were re-categorised with effect from 1 April
2006 and the budget for this sector has been stabilised. Funding in the form of
subsidies is based on the learner numbers at the school, fees charged at the
school, as well as the Grade 12 pass rate of the school. The budget for
Independent Schools has increased from R31,684 million in 2006/07 to R35,684
million in 2007/2008.
Programme 4
4. School Sports, Youth, and Recreation, Arts and Culture (SYRAC) and inclusive
education. Honourable Speaker, the purpose of Public Schools Education is to
provide compulsory public education in special schools in accordance with the
South African schools and White Paper six on Inclusive Education. To improve on
extra-curricular activities, the SYRAC directorate will engage learners in
activities relating to sport, youth, recreation, arts and culture. The overall
budget for Public Special Schools for 2007/08 is R179 345 million.
4.1 Inclusive Education
The diversity among learner communities compels government to provide formal
education to such learners with special educational needs. These include
effective and efficient special programmes and support services for both
learners in this category and educators with special skills. The department has
established three full service schools that will cater for the needs of
Inclusive Education in accordance with White Paper 6 on Inclusive Education.
Renovations are in progress at Dr Mngoma and Letlotlo Primary Schools.
Renovations at Maboloka Primary will commence during the 2007/08 financial
year. To strengthen Special Schools 20 educator assistants have been
appointed.
The overall budget for Public Special Schools for 2007/08 is R179 345
million.
4.2 SYRAC
The School Sport, Youth Recreation, Arts and Culture (SYRAC) will once again
receive special attention in the 2007/08 financial year. R2 million has been
earmarked for SYRAC to continue improving the quality of participation in
sport, recreation, arts, culture and youth programmes.
Programme 5
5. Further Education and Training
The overall budget for the Further Education and Training sector for 2007/2008
is R187,364 million. The importance of the recapitalisation of the FET College
Sector was explicitly mentioned in the State of the Nation Address on Friday, 9
February 2007. The goal of the recapitalisation of the FET Colleges is to
increase the number of students enrolled in high priority skills programmes
that will either lead to higher education, employment or self employment. FET
Colleges therefore are a key sector playing a leading role in the development
and the provision of skills, more so the identified scarce and critical skills
as articulated in Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa
(AsgiSA) and Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA). It is my
pleasure today Honourable Speaker, to announce that the introduction of the
Bursary Scheme forms an integral part of our renewal and transformation agenda
in the FET College sector. Our provincial target is to provide bursaries to 1
400 students by the end of the current academic year.
Programme 6
6. Adult basic education and training (ABET)
ABET is one of the provincial priority programs and is seen as an indispensable
transformation project, contributing to the reconstruction and development of
our previously disadvantaged communities. Despite these achievements, the
sector is still faced with the challenges of fully complying with the ABET Act,
the Employment of Educators Act of 1998 and Basic Conditions of Employment Act
1996 impacting on labour stability in the sector. To normalise the appointments
and payments of educators, the department will create educator posts at the
ABET Centres (in line with the provision of the ABET Act, but which the
department still has to comply with). We will replace the current system of
payments based on an hourly tariff for hours worked with no job security with a
new system which will come into being in the new financial year.
The allocation for ABET for 2007/2008 is R69 122 million. R3,5 million of
this is targeted to the new national priority for the expansion of ABET as
declared by the Minister of Education. The reduction on the ABET budget is
brought by the fact that ABET educators are paid against the Districts budget
instead of against Programme 6 on ABET.
Programme 7
7. Early childhood development (ECD) R58,038 million has been allocated to the
Early Childhood Development sector. This represents an increase of R7,4 million
on the previous budget for subsidy payment towards funding Grade R in Public
Ordinary Schools and Community-Based Centres. Subsidies are used both for
salaries of teachers at identified sites and the provision of much needed
resources to community-based sites and Quintile one and two schools.
There are currently 285 community-based sites receiving support and the 287
classes at public schools have been increased by 128 new classes as from
January 2007. Another achievement was to enhance the ECD field with the
development of a pre-Grade R curriculum that was launched on Tuesday, 13
February 2007. In this regard the financial and professional support rendered
by the Flemish Government is acknowledged with appreciation. The ongoing
improvement of the qualifications of ECD practitioners remains a challenge and
is being addressed in various contexts, also by means of the Expanding Public
Works Programme (EPWP) for ECD, in collaboration with the Department of Social
Development.
Programme 8
8. Auxiliary and associated services
Honourable Speaker, as a public service institution which finds its mandate
within the context of a developmental state which represents the interests of
the poorest of the poor of our province and country, we will continue to
develop strategic intervention programmes that indeed reflect that we are a
pro-poor and caring organisation. As President Mbeki put in his speech
delivered on the occasion of the 95th Anniversary of the African National
Congress (ANC) in January 2007, "The struggle to eradicate poverty will
continue to be a central part of the national effort to build the new South
Africa". Honourable Speaker, funds allocated for this programme are guaranteed
to continue the process of transforming the department, to invest in the human
resources through development programmes, to provide effective management of
examinations and to continue to battle against the scourge of HIV and AIDS in
education. R390 861 million has been allocated for this programme. This
represents an increase of R83 255 million on the previous budget.
8.1 HIV and AIDS (Life Skills Education)
The Life Skills and HIV and AIDS Education Programme is a prevention programme
and is infused in the curriculum as a compulsory aspect that all primary and
secondary schools are obliged to address. Approximately 14 000 educators from
Grades 1 to 12 have been trained and the programme has been implemented in the
Life Orientation Learning Area in all schools. The 2007/08 Business Plan has
made provision for the top-up training of 1 700 educators. The integration of
HIV and AIDS into all learning areas will be rolled out to 280 schools.
8.2 Learner Support Programme
Honourable Speaker, the Learner Support Programme is a combination of the
Learner Transport Project, the Hostel Project, the national School Nutrition
Programme and the Orphan Programme. This is a flagship programme of the
department as it concretely responds to the pledge we have made to the public
and create a better life for all.
8.2.1 National School Nutrition Programme
The national School Nutrition Programme is intended to contribute to enhanced
learning capacity through school feeding. A comprehensive business plan has
been approved and it covers all primary schools that qualify for the feeding
scheme for 2007/08 financial year. The Provincial Department will top up the
conditional grant allocated by R1 280 million to ensure that all primary school
learners are fed. In 2006/07 the department fed 369 659 learners. In 2007/2008
the department will feed 413 546 learners in all qualifying primary
schools.
8.2.2 Learner Transport
We are deeply concerned about learners walking long distances to and from
school. Many of these learners are from poor rural communities. In order to
deal with challenges facing such rural children, the department is providing
transport for learners in the farms and other rural areas. Learners who walk
distances of more than six kilometres are benefiting from the project. In
2006/07 the department transported 5132 learners. This figure increased to 12
820 learners transported. The total number of 12 820 learners will continue to
be transported in 2007/08 financial year. R37 577 million has been earmarked
for this service.
8.2.3 Farm School Hostel Project
The department has implemented the Hostel Accommodation Programme for learners
from non-viable farm schools. Learners are currently accommodated in 11 hostels
in the five districts. Three new hostels are being developed to accommodate
more learners in 2007/08. In 2006/2007 the department accommodated 1 373
learners in 11 hostels. In 2007/08 the department will accommodate 1 504
learners in 13 hostels. R12,245 million has been set aside fro this
sub-programme.
8.2.4 Orphans
The department has been providing food parcels on a bi-monthly basis to orphans
who qualify. In 2006/07 the department distributed food parcels to 10 821
orphans. The project is on its last phase as it will be taken over by the
Department of Social Development. R10 091 million will be utilised for the
remainder of the last phase of the project.
Conclusion
Honourable Speaker, I am sure everyone in this house will agree that the task
at hand is enormous, but the resolve to ensure optimal operational efficiency
and effectiveness is as constant as a Northern Star.
I have tried to sketch some of the gains made by the department, outline
some of the key challenges and give an indication as to how our budget will be
spent in 2007/08. This budget obviously cannot meet all our needs but goes a
long way to bringing stability to the institutions of the Free State Department
of Education.
We commit ourselves to continuously enhance the efficiency and capacity of
the department to respond adequately to the ever-changing needs of the varied
communities we serve.
The priorities that I have outlined, Honourable Speaker, will be the
foundation for our work for the 2007/08 financial year. Allow me, therefore, to
express my sincere appreciation to all our partners in the public and private
sectors, the donor community, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community
and faith-
based organisations (CBOs), unions, higher education institutions and all other
stakeholders for their continued support in helping us realise our vision and
mission of improving the lives of our citizens by providing them with quality
education and training. Without your individual and collective efforts there
would be no meaningful education transformation in our province and
country.
I wish to take this opportunity to express my thanks to all members of the
Free State Department of Education for the remarkable contributions they have
made, through their unstinting commitment, to the transformation of education
in the province. Your contribution will help strengthen the basis for all the
transformative work that will increasingly deepen the quality in education in
the years to come.
May I offer my heartfelt thanks to the Honourable Premier of the Free State,
Me Beatrice Marshoff, the Executive Council, Portfolio Committee on Education
and other Portfolio Committees and the Provincial Legislature for their
personal and professional support. I also wish to offer a word of thanks to my
party, the ANC. I wish to express my thanks to the support staff in my office.
Finally, I wish to record a special thanks to my husband and children for all
their inspiration and the support and assistance they have always given.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Education, Free State Provincial Government
19 March 2007
Source: Free State Provincial Government (http://www.fsdoe.fs.gov.za/)
