More focus is put into the early childhood development (ECD) category through the expansion of access to Grade R in public ordinary schools.
For this endeavour, the department has set aside more than R 86 million to ensure that majority of schools increases Grade R classes. The investment will increase to an estimated to R 115 million over the 2013/14 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period.
When delivering her budget speech today MEC for Education, Grizelda Cjiekella, said access to Grade R in public ordinary schools has been on the ramp with over 88 percent of primary ordinary schools already offering Grade R classes.
“From 2009, we were at 11 406 Grade R learners to 16 557 to date. The Frances Baard District is at 98 percent whilst John Taolo Gaetsewe is the lowest at 76 percent coverage. Majority of our schools are eager to increase their Grade R classes, but the major challenge remains a shortage of infrastructure, illustrating the extent of work still require in expanding access and improving the quality of learning and teaching in Grade R,” said Cjiekella.
Provincially, about 51 primary schools that do not offer Grade R Payment of Grade R practitioners has been adjusted from R 3 500 to R 5 000 with effect 1 April 2012. Accordingly, all salaries to the practitioners are paid through the persal system following discrepancies regarding previous payment method.
“More still needs to be done with regards to the Grade R practitioners obtain minimum teaching requirements. To this end a total of 162 and 222 ECD practitioners have attained their NQF level 4 and 5 respectively over the past two years,” said Cjiekella.
More than 24 and 72 practitioners are currently studying a one year course towards their ECD NQF level $ and 5 certificates respectively. Furthermore, through the partnership with the FET College (Upington campus), a total of 100 and 400 practitioners are currently studying towards their ECD NQF level 4 and 5 respectively and are expected to finish their studies this year in September.
For more information contact:
Lehuma Ntuane
Head of Communication Unit
Tel: 053 839 6778
Cell: 078 293 1961
