In February 2013, I established a Ministerial Task Team for Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) to conduct an investigation into the implementation of the Mathematics, Science and Technology Strategy. The Task Team completed the assigned task and presented a report of its findings and recommendations to me on 7 June. The report is duly attached to this statement.
The following recommendations were cited as urgent and as needing immediate attention by the Department for effective operationalisation of the MST Strategy:
- The establishment of a dedicated MST Office in the department;
- Development of a focused Teacher Development and Support Programme;
- Development of Norms and Standards for a resource provisioning and management programme
- Strengthening and re-orientation of the Dinaledi Programme.
The Task Team report was presented to me at a Roundtable held on 7 June. It was attended by the Task Team, representatives from HEIs and NGOs responsible for MST, the DBE as well as MST Subject Specialists.
Subsequent to the round table, the department has engaged provinces to address issues of concern in the report. On the basis of these engagements, the DBE has developed a Draft Implementation Plan that merges the existing MST Implementation Plan with the findings of the Ministerial Task Team. An internal consultation process is still underway to finalise the Implementation Plan.
On finalisation of the Plan, there will be a further process to ensure that provincial plans are aligned. In response to the recommendation to establish the MST Office, the department is reviewing the organisational structure to strengthen the MST Strategy. This includes the possibility of establishing a fully functional MST Directorate as recommended by Task Team.
The department still has to consult Higher Education Institutes with regards to strengthening the implementation of continuous and initial teacher development programmes, specifically in MST. This matter will be given the attention it deserves. The Norms and Standards for Maths and Science were developed in September 2013.
The norms and standards for Technical High schools are currently in the development stage and will be made available for public comment in January 2014. With regards to the recommendation to strengthen and re-orientate the Dinaledi Programme, the department has introduced a stronger system of curriculum support, planning, management and monitoring through the conditional grant for all the Dinaledi schools.
The grant framework is currently being revised. The department has made noticeable progress in responding to the recommendations of the Task Team.
The following are important for the department to meet its own objectives:
- to raise participation and performance by historically disadvantaged learners in Senior Certificate mathematics and physical science
- to provide high-quality mathematics, science and technology education for all learners taking the first GETC and FETC
- to increase and enhance the human resource capacity to deliver quality Mathematics, Science and Technology education.
I thank the members of the task team, namely:
- Prof John Bradley
- Dr Sadha Moodley
- Ms Margaret Ramokgopa
- Dr Agnes Chigona
- Mr Kobus van Wyk
- Dr Paddy Padayachee
- Ms Cathy Hastie
- Ms Marlene Sasman
- Mr David Kramer
- Mr Philip Dikgomo, and
- Ms Mataole Ramohapi
…for the splendid job that they have done. I hope to tap into their expertise as often as possible, to allow me to ensure that the quality of MST provided to our children meets the standards of the international community.
