Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning and thank you for attending this press conference.
Grade 12 Examinations
Today our Grade 12 learners are writing English Home and First Additional Language and I am happy to indicate that so far the Grade 12 Examination is progressing without any glitches.
We are confident that the department will uphold the integrity of this examination by ensuring an incident free and credible process.
The Examination will end on 1 December 2011 and the results will be announced on 5 January 2012.
Help Desk
The department has a Help Desk to assist address all examination related queries and is accessible at (013) 766 0033 or (013) 766 0097 alternatively e- mail to b.mabunda@education.mpu.gov.za or b.marobe@education.mpu.gov.za.
This will help to close the chapter of outstanding examination related documentation.
Once more, we request all candidates to stay focused and ensure that they study until they write the last paper.
Admission of Learners
The department mounted an advocacy programme in August this year to alert our parents and guardians to register their school going children before the end of October 2011.
So far the response has been encouraging and currently schools are urged to address all outstanding cases and respond to parents accordingly.
I take this time to request all our communities to ensure that all children of school going age are registered to schools and learn from the first day of school re- opening.
The following officials must be contacted should there be queries on admission by parents:
Bohlabela District
Mr Jabu Lubambo
Tel: 013 708 5000
E-mail: lebambo@live.co.za
Ehlanzeni District
Mr Mkhipheni Mwale
Tel: 013 766 0520
E-mail: mwale@education.mpu.gov.za
Gert Sibande District
Ms Yasmeen Mohamed
Tel: 017 801 5028
E-mail: ymahomed@education.mpu.gov.za
Nkangala District
Mr David Masombuka
Tel: 013 947 2751
E-mail: mhletswa@education.mpu.gov.za
Supply of Learning and Teaching Support Material
The department has already procured and received schools stationary which will be dispatched to schools by the end of November 2011.
The department has already ordered textbooks to replace all Grade 10 textbooks with new textbooks that are compliant with Curriculum and Policy Statement (CAPS). We envisage that these will have reached all our schools by the end of January 2012.
The department has set aside R333 million to achieve this endeavour.
Post provision for 2012
The department finalised its medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) consultations with stakeholders on 18 October 2011, and resolve that the pool of educator posts to be distributed to the schools for the 2012 academic year will remain 32 637 posts. This provides a favourable teacher Pupil Ratio at 1:29.
Post provisioning certificates have since been issued to all schools which will provide a framework for their curriculum – and educator provisioning planning for the 2012 academic year.
Temporary teachers
I am delighted to indicate that the department together with Educator Unions signed a collective Agreement on 25 October 2011 to ensure that temporary educators on post level 1 who are currently serving in Public Schools who meet the minimum requirements for permanent appointment shall be appointed permanently in vacant substantive posts in their current schools of employment.
A process to identify and to appoint these educators should be finalised not later than 9 December 2011.
I take this time to express our appreciation for the collaboration received from educator unions in this regard.
New Schools
There are six new schools that will be operational for the first time next year. These are:
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Inqubeko Secondary in Piet Retief
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Ezakheni Combined Boarding School in Wakkerstroom Circuit
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Shongwe Boarding School in Malelane Circuit
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Vezimfundo Primary in Delmas Circuit
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Henry Mkhabela Secondary School in Witbank Circuit
Khunjuliwe Secondary School in Standerton will be using their new buildings next year.
Storm damaged schools
The department has entered into a term contract with ABACUS to ensure that mobile classes are made available to relieve schools that will be affected by storms between now and January 2012.
Information on Curriculum
The department is ready to phase in the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) in the Foundation Phase and Grade10 in 2012.
The new policy documents have been distributed to all teachers in the affected grades.
Orientation workshops were conducted for teachers and managers during the July and October 2011 school holidays and this will be continued until we are satisfied that all teachers are on board.
School based support for teachers will be strengthened to improve learner performance.
Paper budgets for 2012
Paper budgets detailing amounts allocated to schools for the next financial year have been distributed to schools on 30 September 2011.
This will ensure that schools are able to convene their annual parents’ meeting to present budgets for 2012 school year as dictated by the South African Schools Act no 84 of 1996.
The department has honoured all transfers to schools and the last round of transfers for the financial year 2011/12 will be done before the end of January 2012.
School Safety Measures
The department is concerned with recent developments which threaten the safety of learners, educators and non-teaching staff in our schools.
The department will next year intensify the collaborative effort with the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison to rid our schools for dangerous weapons and drug substances and all forms of social ill prevalent in our schools.
So far 50% of schools in the Province are linked to Police stations and we intend to be at 100% by March 2012.
The purpose of this is to ensure improved school safety for the enhancement of learner performance.
Elections of School Governing Bodies
Preparations for the elections of School Governing Bodies that are going to take place from 1 to 31 March 2012 are underway.
I request all schools to make every effort in line with the relevant guidelines to ensure that this progress smoothly.
At the same time, I take this time to request communities to take interest by making themselves available to participate in school matters within the ambit of School Governing Bodies.
The department has established a consultative forum to ensure that such matters are managed meticulously and with the professionalism they deserve.
Conclusion
We are optimistic that based on this, the department will start the 2012 school year with renewed energy and zeal to enhance teaching and learning practice in our schools.
I also request our communities to continue to support all education efforts and make education work for them.
Our collective view is that we can only achieve our goals of accelerating excellence in education delivery if we work side by side.
Once more, thank you for making time to attend to this press conference and I
also thank the learners at home.
Thank you.
