The Council of Education Ministers held an ordinary meeting on 13 to 14 August 2009 in Pretoria.
National Senior Certificate Examinations
Council was briefed on preparations for the matric examinations for 2009 and the preparedness of provinces to administer the examinations. Council expressed its satisfaction with the measures taken to ensure the smooth administration of the 2009 examinations.
Council also noted that there are 72 days left to the start of the 2009 National Senior Certificate examinations and called on teachers, parents and learners to ensure that the available time is constructively utilised to prepare for the examinations.
Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, 2009
Council approved the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, 2009, for submission to Cabinet, to be followed by a process of public comment. The Bill contains technical amendments to give effect to the creation of the two new education departments (the departments of Basic Education and Higher Education and Training), but it also proposes a number of substantive changes to the South African Schools Act and the South African Council for Educators (SACE) Act.
These include:
* A provision that places an obligation on school governing bodies to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination among official languages offered at a school.
* A provision for alternative sanctions to be imposed on a learner whose appeal against expulsion is upheld by the MEC.
* An amendment that will make a distinction between special schools for learners with barriers to learning and those which provide education with a specialised focus, such as schools of the arts, agricultural or technical schools.
* Amendments that will require the school principal to assist the Standards Generating Body (SGB) with the management of the school funds, to take reasonable steps to prevent financial maladministration, to sit on all financial committees of the school and to report mismanagement or maladministration to the SGB and the Head of Department.
* A provision that will prohibit non-educational activities in schools such as party political and related activities during school time.
* Provisions that will prevent SGBs from availing school property for business purposes which are not bona-fide fund-raising operations such as the school tuck-shop.
* Provisions that will prevent the SGB from entering into a loan or overdraft agreement without the written approval of the MEC.
* Provisions that will allow the MEC to determine additional No Fee Schools.
* Provisions that will enable the Head of Department to provide grants to qualifying governing body associations to undertake training of governing bodies.
* Provisions for funding to schools to allow for contributions towards membership of a recognised governing body association.
Teenage pregnancy
Council of Education Ministers (CEM) received a research report on teenage pregnancy and agreed that the report should be taken to a public seminar to be held on 28 August 2009.
Enquiries:
Granville Whittle
Cell: 072 148 9575
Tel: 012 312 5024
Issued by: Department of Basic Education
14 August 2009
Source: Department of Basic Education (http://www.education.gov.za)
