The NEEDU (National Education Evaluation and Development Unit) Bill was published for comment on 23 December 2011 (Government Notice 907, Government Gazette 34858).
In short, once established, the NEEDU will identify the factors that inhibit or advance school improvement; analyse and identify approaches and strategies necessary for achieving equality in the provision of quality education; evaluate the way in which provincial education departments monitor and evaluate schools; evaluate the support that schools receive from the education districts and departments; evaluate the state of South African schools, in particular, the quality of school leadership, teaching and learning; and publish reports on the state of the education system.
The NEEDU will also make proposals for remedying shortcomings in educational practice; eliminating barriers to quality education; emulating examples of good practice; developing the knowledge and professional capacity of educators; and improving the support that the education districts and departments provide to schools.
In order to do the above, the NEEDU will have the authority to visit schools and to observe and assess, amongst others, classroom teaching; educator knowledge; learner knowledge; professional management of the school; and the capacity, efficiency and effectiveness of the school governing body.
The NEEDU will also have the authority to visit a district office or the office of an education department (provincial and national) to assess how well these bodies support schools and educators.
All interested persons and organisations are invited to comment on the Bill, in writing, and direct their comments to:
The Director-General, Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001 for attention:
Adv Moribishane Ramafoko
Tel: 012 357 3720
Fax: 012 323 9430
E-mail: ramafoko.m@dbe.gov.za
The closing date for comments is 17 February 2012, and, regrettably, no late comments will be accepted.
