Charter
17 August 2007
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) today (Friday, 17 August 2007)
unveiled a 12 point plan committing itself to ensure that all teachers are
competent and well-prepared, and that teachers will be able to recognise and
assist learners experiencing barriers to learning.
The unveiling of the WCED's Service Delivery Charter is part of an ongoing
programme to improve service delivery, to ensure quality education for all in
the Western Cape.
The service standards, in three categories, apply to the department as a
whole, and form the basis of the WCED's Service Delivery Charter. The standards
cover Teaching and Learning Assessment and Support, Management and Governance,
and Learning Site Environment.
The standards relating to teaching and learning assessment and support cover
a range of issues, including universal enrolment of learners of school-going
age, and improving access to early childhood development, further education and
training, adult basic education and training and special needs education.
Learners must have 100% of the appropriate learning and support materials on
the first day of the school year. All Grade 8 learners must receive adequate
guidance on further study and appropriate career guidance.
The standards on management and governance relate to building effective
leadership and governance at schools and colleges, regular and appropriate
communication, and consultation with parent bodies and local communities.
Standards on the learning site environment commit the WCED to ensuring that
all learning sites are secured, that all learners and staff are safe, and that
all learners have sufficient and appropriate accommodation.
The department is currently engaged in a redesign project to ensure that it
has the capacity to implement the Human Capital Development Strategy of the
Western Cape.
The redesign project is at advanced stage. Key principles including
strengthening circuits to bring development support closer to schools that need
this assistance the most.
The WCED will provide training for staff at various levels to build a
culture of service excellence over the next three years.
This training will include training for office-based staff, setting and
managing service delivery standards by middle and senior management, and
building a culture of customer care based on the Batho Pele principles, to "put
people first."
The WCED has introduced a compliments and complaints mechanism, called
Thetha Nathi, for clients wishing to complain about poor service delivery or to
report examples of service excellence.
Improving service excellence is not a once-off event, but a process.
The WCED's success in the annual Premier's Awards for Service Excellence has
already demonstrated the department's commitment to service excellence. The
Service Delivery Charter will take this process further.
Said Education MEC Cameron Dugmore, "We must always remember that the
delivery of the curriculum remains our core mandate, and the learner in the
classroom is thus our key concern. In the last few years, there has been
consistent growth in educator numbers, and many of our schools in the province
are excelling in their matriculation results and in various other measures of
performance."
"However, too many African and Coloured learners are not passing with
matriculation endorsements and in the critical areas of Maths and Science, and
it is clear that significant additional support for teachers is needed in order
for our learners to be reaching their full potential."
"Thus our service delivery standards must focus across all levels of our
education system, but must unequivocally emphasise our schools that face daily
challenges of poverty, crime and underdevelopment."
"In order to render services properly, the department is being staffed
appropriately through our redesign process. In fact, I am proud to report to
you today that the Cabinet has this week approved nominations for Senior
Management Service posts. I believe this is a seminal moment for service
delivery and transformation of the WCED."
"The structural adjustments we are making will accelerate the goals of
expanding access, promoting equity and redress, providing knowledge and skills
and, by so doing, assist in the fight against poverty and unemployment."
"This remains our mandate and we in the education sector have a critical
role to play to ensure that our youth acquire the skills, knowledge, values and
attitudes needed to develop their own potential and assist in placing our
country on a sustainable and shared growth path."
Enquiries:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: 021 467 2523
Cell: 082 550 3938
Fax: 021 425 5689
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
17 August 2007
