The Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and the European Union (EU) Ambassador, Mr Roeland van de Geer signed an agreement to launch the Primary Education Sector Policy Support Programme (PrimEDSPSP) in Cape Town today.
The overall objective of the PrimEDSPSP is to contribute to improving learner performance in literacy and numeracy at primary school level. It also aims to strengthen fundamental elements of the general education training programme that are key to improving the quality of education delivery at primary school level.
In September 2010, the international launch of the support programme took place in Belgium, Brussels on the fringes of President Zuma's state visit. It was agreed at that time that there would be a South African launch of the programme as well.
The local launch coincides with the visit to South Africa (SA) of fifteen (15) EU parliamentarians who will participate in the SA/EU Inter-parliamentary sitting scheduled to take place between 21 and 25 February 2011 in Cape Town.
The programme purpose is to strengthen fundamental elements of the general education training programme that are key to improving the quality of education delivery at primary school level with a special focus on:
- Expanding access to quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) opportunities, especially for poor communities
- Effective implementation of the curriculum
- Attracting and ensuring appropriately qualified and competent teachers in all learning areas at all levels, with special focus on scarce skills.
Enquiries
Granville Whittle
Cell: 072 148 9575
Source: Department of Basic Education
