The Constitution of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996) protects the right to basic education for all. South Africa also subscribes to a number of international conventions that underwrite the right to basic education. Since 1994, much has been done to achieve government’s goal of access to education but there remain areas of concern, particularly with regard to equal access to quality education by all categories of learners and questionable levels of learning outcomes.
Recognising that education is a matter of wide interest and that the success of our nation is intertwined with the quality of our education system, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education will be embarking on a national focus on the delivery of quality education in South Africa and challenges pertaining thereto and the crucial issue of access to education.
Written submissions are hereby invited on aspects affecting quality outcomes in primary and high schools. Issues such as:
* curriculum content
* teacher development
* class size
* managerial capacity at schools
* orientating schools towards specialisation
* values in education.
Written submissions for the consideration of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education are also invited on the issue of access to education. These pertain to matters such as:
* inclusive education
* homeless children or orphans
* geographic location of schools and infrastructure
* language barriers
* children in trouble with the law and education in prisons.
By these submissions the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education intends to obtain first hand information on the pressure points and to find mutual solutions that will make a positive contribution towards improving areas of concern within the basic education terrain.
The portfolio committee hopes in this regard to elicit submissions from all stakeholders and in particular from teachers on their experiences. The committee invites all interested individuals and organisations to submit written comments on the above by 28 February 2010. Submissions should be addressed to:
Llewellyn Brown, Committee Secretary, Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, National Assembly
P O Box 15
Cape Town
8000
E-mail: lbrown@parliament.gov.za
Fax: 021 403 2808
For enquiries:
Tel: 021 403 3764
Cell: 083 709 8450
Issued by: Department of Basic Education
19 November 2009
Source: Department of Education (http://www.education.gov.za/)
