Basic Education Committee pleased with schools readiness in the Eastern Cape
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has voiced satisfaction with the progress it witnessed in the Eastern Cape’s rural schools it visited on Tuesday.
The Committee’s Chairperson, Ms Hope Malgas, said the Committee was happy with what it had found, especially that the schools in the province appeared ready to start the academic year.
“Officials from the Department were honest in their assessment of the challenges the province faced, and how they were being addressed. It is reassuring that in the visited schools, learner support materials had been delivered, and that their feeding programmes and the scholar transport functioned well,” said Ms Malgas.
The Committee is visiting the Eastern Cape mainly to monitor, guide, and offer assistance to the province. The visit is against the background that the Eastern Cape came last, with just under 65% of the matric pass rate.
“Of course, there are issues that required emphasis and consideration not only from the province but national as well. Among these is the issue of temporary teachers, completion of the process of placing educators in excess and the role or challenge posed by teacher unions,” Ms Malgas said.
A meeting between the Committee and teacher unions is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) at 14h00. The meeting would ascertain the role unions play in encouraging quality teaching and learning.
Some of the schools visited today were: Jongilizwe Senior Secondary School, and Tsolo Residency JSS.
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