The Department of Basic Education is gearing up for a smooth start to the 2014 school year, through numerous interventions that have been put in place year after year. Over the past four years the Department has addressed many of the challenges that were historically associated with the opening of schools resulting in a smoother start to the school year.
School Admissions
Notably the most significant achievement in planning for a new school year has been early learner admission, which in most Provinces is completed, at the latest, by September of the year preceding the academic year. This enables the system to plan for adequate provisioning of critical resources ahead of the new academic year. It also allows for mopping up to ensure that there is a place for all learners at the beginning of the academic year. Provision is however still made for late registrations due to unforeseen circumstances that can be proven to relevant Provincial Heads of Department. These are largely handled at District level to minimize disruptions to the running of schools and in particular, learning and teaching.
Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM)
Another milestone is the increased and timely provision of Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) and Workbooks. The challenges of timely delivery of books to schools have mainly been due to challenges in adhering to the strict timeframes set for procurement and delivery of LTSM; inaccurate data from some schools and Districts, and non-reporting of shortages where they happen.
There has however, been significant improvement in all these areas in preparation for 2014. All Provinces are on track and are working in terms of the sector plan for procurement and delivery; the quality of data from districts has improved and so has the verification thereof, making it easier for the delivery of books in adequate quantities at the right schools and on time.
In 2012 the DBE established a toll-free number known to all schools, for the reporting of shortages and excess deliveries that may occur. All deliveries, both LTSM and workbooks, are scheduled to be in schools by 30 October 2013. Districts will be monitoring the deliveries, and reporting any shortages to the Provincial Head Office as delivery occurs. The final mop up and remediation for textbook delivery will be between 01 and 30 November 2013.
Infrastructure
The DBE continues to address the historical challenge of inappropriate and dangerous infrastructure as a priority, through the Accelerated Infrastructure Development Initiative (ASIDI). The Initiative addresses not only school buildings but the provision of furniture for learners and teachers, water, electricity and sanitation.
In 2014, seven (7) Provinces including the Eastern Cape, will receive mobile classrooms to accommodate learners where schools are still under construction, and to alleviate overcrowding. Upon completion of the ASIDI schools, these mobile classrooms will join a pool of decanting facilities in respective Provinces. The DBE is also working with all Provinces to ensure the utilisation of the Provincial Education Infrastructure Grant allocation to urgently address pressing infrastructure challenges ahead of the new school year.
School Furniture
Through a collaboration with the Department of Labour, more than 55 000 desks, 5200 teacher tables and a further 5200 teacher chairs are already being made available to schools that need them. In addition the Department of Environmental Affairs has started manufacturing an additional 70 000 desks in this financial year for delivery to schools. In total 125 095 desks will be available for the beginning of the 2014 school year and schools, through their provinces, are sending in their furniture needs.
Water and Sanitation
More than 10 000 schools will be provided with new ablution facilities at the beginning of 2014. Another 514 schools will be provided with water, while 433 schools will have their water facilities upgraded. The process of identifying the schools, procurement, construction and/or repairs and renovations is already under way and will be complete by end of December 2013. Where possible identified issues are given immediate attention.
Human Resources
Top on the priority of Provincial Education Departments is the filling of all management posts and teaching posts ahead of the start of each school year. Key processes associated with school-level Human Resource provisioning are proceeding as anticipated with provinces working to ensure that final post establishments are declared by 30 September and schools can identify and finalize their vacancies for 2014, as well as the identification of teachers who are additional to the post establishment no later than 31 October 2013.
Planning for and working towards a smooth start to the 2014 academic year is well on track – particularly in the key areas that have historically challenged the system at the start of a new year. All children in school on the first day of the school year, with the necessary LTSM provided for; all children in a school with reasonable infrastructure that has the necessary furniture and access to water and sanitation; and all classrooms and subjects with the necessary teachers to make learning and teaching possible.
Enquiries:
Panyaza Lesufi
Cell: 072 148 9575
Hope Mokgatlhe
Cell: 071 680 849
