The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has praised the KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Department of Education for putting in place proper plans to ensure effective teaching and learning for this academic year.
“We are pleased to see that the provincial department has managed to put most of the requisite measures in place for the 2013 academic year. We are therefore hopeful that this commitment will translate into improved results at all phases of schooling in the province,” said Ms Hope Malgas, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education.
The Chairperson added that despite KZN having improved their Grade 12 results, the Committee wanted to see more concerted effort towards improving learner performance in the intermediate and senior phases.
The Committee was in the province for a two-day oversight visit, which was aimed at assessing the readiness of rural schools for the academic year. Tomorrow, the Committee continues its oversight visit to the Eastern Cape.
The Committee was pleased to hear that textbooks and stationery in the province had already been delivered to most schools by September last year. The Committee was also satisfied that the majority of schools had received their workbooks. The Committee also observed that teaching and learning was well underway in many of the province’s schools.
“It is motivating to see the teacher unions, community organisations and parents as well as the legislature working with the department in ensuring that education in the province with the highest number of learners is prioritised. Indeed, this is the manifestation of President Jacob Zuma’s call to make education a societal matter,” said Ms Malgas.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Temba Gubula
Cell: 078 735 8809
Tel: 021 403 8307
Fax: 021 403 3931
Email: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
