Joint statement on signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Sport and Recreation South Africa and Department of Basic Education to improve school sports
Imbizo Media Centre, School Sport programme is the bedrock of sport of in South Africa. The programme is being implemented in line with the National Sport and Recreation Plan. In 2012 the Minister of Sports and Recreation signed the Memorandum of agreement with the Minister Basic Education. The MoU has been in existence for five years and a review process has just been concluded in December 2017. The process was a consultative process with all the relevant stakeholders, which includes the National Department of Basic Education and Provincial Departments of Education, Provincial Departments of Sport, Sports Federations, Teachers Unions and School Governing Bodies associations.
SRSA and DBE have been implementing the National School Sports Championships, which a prime sports competition in Schools, where talent can be identified at the early stage and be supported in order to nurture it to reach its full potential. The Championships have undergone several changes over the past five years, starting with nine sporting codes to now sixteen priority codes. To date the School Sport programme has enabled more than 6 000 schools to participate in school sports annually. There is still more work to be done in order to reach all the 25 000 schools.
Since 2016 the Championships have been organised over three seasons, these have been divided as follows Autumn, Winter and Summer. Since 2017 in each seasonal championship started implementing the three years cycle and have implemented the Long-Term Participant Development (LTPD) model. This model emanates from the South African Coaching Framework, which was adopted by all federations with SASCOC. Through this model the competitive level of championships in order to attract the best of talent from the schools. Through the school sports programme annually more than 2500 schools are provided with sports equipment and attire.
The 5th Transformation Status Report by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) which was recently handed over to the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Ms Tokozile Xasa, identified as well challenges in the administration and running of school sports and came up with a number of recommendations on how best to improve on the implementation of school sport programme as the bedrock of sports development in the country. The report further recommended that the Sport and Recreation SA and Department of Basic Education work together to address challenges that are currently hampering the successful implementation of the school sports programme.
The Minister of Sport and Recreation SA, Ms Tokozile Xasa MP and the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga MP this day (30 May 29, 2018) held a press briefing where both Departments signed a Memorandum of Understanding that clearly articulates areas of responsibility, alignment of resources for the implementation of the school sports programmes.
The 2018 signed Memorandum of Understanding between Sport and Recreation South Africa and Department of Basic Education factored number of elements inclusive of the following:
- The background, included now an updated reflection on progress made to date in School Sport development.
- The MoU included as well demarcation of roles where it clearly reflects the assignment of role players from Level 1-6.
- The MoU further factored roles and responsibilities of both Departments reflecting the following:
- SGB’s powers that needed to be revised (Requires amendment to Schools Act)
- School Committees should be run by teachers (Requires amendment to School Sport Structures policy)
- Department of Education and Provinces must also include School Sport as their strategic output.
- SRSA and Provinces must facilitate the establishment of School Sport structures, while DBE initiates the process.
- DBE to provide basic sport infrastructure, SRSA to facilitate the provision of infrastructure through Sports Trust, National Lottery, MIG etc.
- Teacher Unions & SGBs Associations to be included in the ex-Joint National Task Team and also in the ex-Joint Provincial Task Team
- Sport Code Committees to have a representation in the School Sport Coordinating Committees
- Federations to ensure that School Sport has an associate membership in their structure.
- Establishment of School Sport Coordinating Committee and its composition, Committee to be chaired by Sport and Recreation South Africa and Department of Basic Education.
- The MoU further made provision for sport infrastructure and resources outlining that provision must be made for utilization of Municipal Infrastructure Grant to build some of the School Sport infrastructure
- National School Sport Championships: (The three cycle is being highly contested, especially the break) however, three-year cycle has been included
- Funding: DBE should take full responsibility of funding levels 1-3 (Intra school up to cluster level) whilst, SRSA take care of levels 4-6 (district, provincial and national level).
- Communication protocol: Across all levels DBE and SRSA officials should communicate their planned activities.
Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, Minister Tokozile Xasa had this to say regarding the signing of the MoU with Department of Basic Education,
“This is indeed a landmark achievement as it is going to strengthen our intra- government relationship with Basic Education, it is further going to ensure that we continue to execute our mandate of delivering junior sport development in schools. Sport development foundation is a problem and the signing of this MoU with amended elements will be able to assist with instilling sport discipline at a tender age therefore giving proper development and training. This will further assist in managing the challenges of infrastructure development as schools will be identified and be equipped with the necessary sport infrastructure” Stated Minister Tokozile Xasa.
Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga MP, had this to say “Sport is such an important part of our education system. It is not only the foundation upon which all of our professional athletes build their careers, but it also fosters social cohesion and a sense of team values among our youth. It is also a valuable mechanism that keeps our young people away from youth criminality, drug abuse and other social ills by giving them something worthwhile to do and to be proud of. While not everyone can be good at sport it encourages participation in other ways through spectator value and instills a sense of pride and support for ones school. We are very excited by the developments we are seeing and to grow this partnership for the benefit of our children and our nation.”
Enquiries:
Mickey Fusi Modisane
Tel: 012 304 5159
Cell: 082 992 0101
E-mail: mickey@srsa.gov.za
Vuyo Mhaga
Tel: 012 304 5239
Cell: 076 636 5193
E-mail: Vmhaga@srsa.gov.za
Elijah Mhlanga
Tel: 012 357 3773
Cell: 083 580 8275
E-mail: Mhlanga.E@dbe.gov.za
