"Improving Performance in Government: Our approach"
What is the main purpose of the document?
The paper outlines government's approach to improving its performance. While government has done well to improve access to services for people who were previously denied, we have not done well in improving the quality. This document commits government to improving outcome and output measures with a particular focus on the priority areas.
It is these outcome and output measures that will form the basis of a Performance Agreement between the President and Ministers/MECs. A six monthly report from Ministers/MECs will serve two purposes first it will allow us to assess if we are on track and secondly allow us to act on problems that may be blocking delivery.
How will you be doing it? Describe your approach?
Government will identify 20 to 25 outcomes based on the already approved Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF). We then move on to understanding the key steps in the delivery chain that will lead to these outcomes. And we develop a set of simple measures to assess on a regular basis that we are on track in delivering the outcome. This sounds straightforward, but it takes great policy insight and expertise to identify those crucial steps that bring about the improvements we are seeking.
For each sector, an individual Minister, groups of Ministers, or clusters of Ministers and MECs will be receiving a letter from the President outlining expected outcomes, and the measures we will be using to assess success. On a six monthly basis, there will be focused meetings between the President and the sector political leadership to assess progress.
In each sector, the political principals will call together a Service Delivery Forum of the key people that are involved in delivery in a sector. Each Forum will negotiate a Delivery Agreement between all the role players that will outline the roles, contribution and funds that each will contribute to achieving the outcomes.
What are your timelines?
By the end of October, we will have developed detailed outcome and output measures for the priority areas of Education, Health, and Safety, Economic growth with the creation of decent jobs, Rural Development, Local Government and Human Settlement, as well as improved capacity in the Public Service. By the time Cabinet Lekgotla meets in January 2010, we would have developed similar measures for the rest of government.
Is this a centralisation of power in the Presidency?
There is no consolidation of power in the Presidency. We are here to provide support and not to police. The Presidency is focussing in providing leadership and oversight and this performance approach in government is focused on assisting all the spheres of government to improve their services. At the heart of this approach is the principle that, once we have politically agreed on outcomes, the sectors experts know best how to achieve the results.
Indeed, we would like to simplify government and remove the unnecessary burden of responding to too many circulars, contradictory and misaligned top-down instructions, report writing and other non core service obligations.
Will the report back information be made public?
Government is committed to transparency and to keep South African public and Parliament informed on the targets we set and the progress we make. The publication of our approach today is evidence that The Presidency take Planning and Performance Monitoring seriously. We will publish regular reports and address Parliament to keep South Africa informed on progress.
What will happen to Ministers and MEC that do not perform?
All of the outcome and output measures are long term in nature. The six monthly report, as explained earlier, will give us insight as to whether we are heading in the right direction. Where necessary, we will make intervention to facilitate delivery. The President will determine what will happen if after consistent attention performance is not adequate.
You have chosen 10 priorities – why these?
In the Medium Term Strategic Framework, government identified 10 priorities. Education, Health, Safety, Economic growth with the creation of decent jobs, Rural Development, effective Local Government and improved Human settlement, improved Governance as well as Environmental sustainability and International relations. These are the sectors that are at the heart of developing this country. We believe that by improving in these sectors it will bring about a gear change, and shift South Africa to an improved developmental path.
It should also be noted that we spend far more than half of our budget on these priorities it is important that we get value for our money.
An example of how this will work: basic education
The process
Politically agreed outcomes
The starting point is the MTSF produced by the planning process. It will be a five year plan arising from Vision 2025 and other issue-specific policy research. For the 2009 to 2010 period we will utilise the MTSF as approved by Cabinet on 19 July 2009. This is the mandate and responsibility of the current administration.
The MTSF is converted into 25 to 30 main outcome indicators, approved by Cabinet. They are a simple and clear way of expressing the Mandate of Government.
One of the outcomes will be to:
"Improve the quality of basic education"
This refers specifically to Grades R to 9, similar measures for the rest of the system.
Outcome measures
We define and agree the most valuable output measures that will indicate if we are achieving the outcome. The Presidency will focus on these measures
* Improve the pass rate for Grade 3 literacy and numeracy to 65%; Grade 6 maths and literacy to 75%; and grade 9 maths and English to 80% over the five year term. This must be measured in an annual independently moderated test for all students in those grades.
Key activities
The key activities that will be required to achieve the outputs will be listed: only those without which the output will not be met are listed.
* Teachers in class on time teaching seven hours a day.
* National workbooks distributed to 80% of the schools.
* Curriculum coverage must be 100% of the workbooks and be measured once a year in every school.
Inputs
The essential inputs are identified: only those that form part of the delivery chain for the outputs.
* For grades 1,2,3 two workbooks (English, numeracy) uniformly distributed to 80%of schools by national department.
* For grades 4,5,6,7 workbooks in five core areas uniformly distributed to 80%of schools by national dept.
* For grade 10, 11, 12 seven core textbooks.
* Independently moderated, internationally benchmarked tests for grades 3, 6 and 9.
Delivery and performance agreements
This delivery chain is developed into a detailed DELIVERY AGREEMENT at a forum of the key delivery institutions at all levels of Government and any external partners.
The council of education ministers, HEDCom, sample of districts, principals, teachers and support institutions negotiate a delivery agreement specifying what each party will deliver, by when, with what resources.
* The identified outcome, outputs, activities and inputs form the core of the Performance Agreement between the President and the Minister and Sector.
* The President confirms the delivery requirements in a letter to the Council of Education ministers and asks for a report on progress every six months.
Does this require extra money?
The aim is to improve efficiency and simplify government by focussing on what is really important. Sector allocations will remain within the present parameters, and there will be reprioritisation and new funding in a fiscally responsible way. We envisage that by the efficiency measures that we are introducing, government will achieve much more with the same budget. We want to move to a clear and directed delivery machinery that understands its role, seeks partnerships with the rest of society and improves the quality of government service on an ongoing basis.
For comment and enquires, please contact:
Ronette Engela
E-mail: Ronette.Engela@po.gov.za
Fax: 086 683 5601
Issued by: The Presidency
4 September 2009
