Honourable Speaker, Mrs Thandi Shongwe,
Honourable Premier, Mr DD Mabuza,
Members of the Legislature,
Members of the Executive Council,
Distinguished guests,
Representatives from the media,
Parents, teachers, learners,
Members of the community who are listening to various radio stations.
I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for having been given this precious time to present the 2014/15 Policy and Budget Speech for the Department of Education. I do this informed by the vision of this country which is clearly pronounced in the National Development Plan. I request to read a few lines of the vision statement:
“We, the people of South Africa, have journeyed far since the long lines of our first democratic election on 27 April 1994, when we elected a government for us all. We began to tell a new story then. We have lived and renewed that story along the way. Now in 2030 we live in a country which we have remade.
We have created a home where everyone feels free yet bounded to others, where everyone embraces their full potential. We are proud to be a community that cares.”
Honourable Speaker, our collective view is that education is the only vehicle that this country will use for the attainment of the above stated vision. It is for this reason, that the ruling party, the African National Congress, saw a need to place education amongst its top priorities. Not only has the Government of the day prioritised education but it continues to support all education processes through various means.
Honourable Speaker, while we acknowledge that great strides have been recorded in the education sector, we remain resolute to spare no effort but continue to work around the clock to consolidate on the gains made. We will do this taking into account the 2011 census results which confirmed that the youth of Mpumalanga accounts for 69.4% of the province’s population distribution.
This means that in whatever we do special emphasis must be made to empower the youth given our view that the youth is our future and investing in the youth is investing in the future of South Africa.
Context
In his State of the Province Address on 27 June 2014, the Honourable Premier covered a lot of ground in detailing achievements of the Department as well as the plans going forward to 2019. Therefore this speech will mainly focus on tabling the plans for 2014/15 financial year.
Early Childhood Development
The provisioning of Early Childhood Development remains a top priority for this administration as this is an area where we integrate care giving with stimulation programmes to prepare children for the teaching and learning environment.
We intend to move in earnest and work with our sister departments and other relevant stakeholders in implementing the Provincial Integrated ECD Strategy and ensure that our children receive two years of compulsory pre-school education.
At the same time the province will work towards improving the knowledge base of ECD Practitioners and Grade R Practitioners’ qualifications towards NQF Level 6 through the provincial bursary scheme programme. The department will also offer training to 400 practitioners to ensure that they meet the basic accredited ECD NQF Level 4 and a further 400 for NQF Level 5 qualification by 2015.
The Honourable Premier, Mr DD Mabuza, has in his 2014 State of the Province Address pronounced the need to take Grade R practitioners' skills development and empowerment programmes to greater heights by establishing the first Provincial Early Childhood Development Institute (ECDI) that will serve as a hub for skills development and a centre for dispensing improved ECD services.
This ECDI will provide training and professional development for ECD Practitioners starting with level one and four qualifications. It will also serve as a centre for materials development, research and a one stop shop for information and data related to ECD. This will create a solid foundation and a base for all educational activities within the province.
The Department has allocated R192 million towards the implementation of all Early Childhood Development Programmes in the 2014/15 financial year.
Annual National Assessment
Honourable Speaker, the diagnosis done through the Annual National Assessment suggests that greater care and attention should be placed towards establishing a strong foundation so that learners can master literacy and numeracy skills from an early age. The performance of our learners in ANA remains very low, in particular in the Grade 9 Mathematics.
We intend to work decisively to ensure that at least 60% of learners in grades 3, 6, 9 obtain results above 50% in Languages and Mathematics and also perform at acceptable standards when compared with their counterparts in other parts of the country and the world. This is achievable if we all play our role and hold each other accountable at all times.
In this regard, the department will support teachers to implement Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), provide supplementary resources, administer common assessments, monitor the utilisation of workbooks on daily basis and ensure curriculum coverage.
Grade 12 Results
Honourable Speaker, we are encouraged that working together with our communities and structures, the province managed to improve the grade 12 pass rate from 47.9% in 2009 to 77.6% in 2014. This is a good story to tell.
Be that as it may, we have set ourselves a 10% improvement target for the 2014 grade 12 results. This means that the department is working towards achieving 87.6%.
The department is also supporting schools towards the realisation of this goal by implementing programmes such as the winter classes, spring classes, provisioning of supplementary material, the dial - a - tutor and radio lessons which have been extended to Community Radio Stations.
I am encouraged that learners and teachers took the opportunity afforded to them to participate in the winter school programme. We also applaud all schools that have used their own initiative and resources to provide winter schools and extended learning opportunities for learners.
The department continues to strengthen and intensify monitoring of curriculum coverage, lesson planning and preparations. We will also provide guidance at cluster and school level on the combination of subjects to increase bachelor passes and for career pathing in keeping to the Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Path.
The department is making every effort to ensure that these results improve qualitatively as well by increasing the number of bachelors passes from 12 954 in 2013 to 13 602 in 2014. We intend to ensure that more learners take and pass Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Our target in 2014 is to have 14 930 and 14 255 learners passing Mathematics and Physical Sciences respectively.
Maths Science and Technology Academy (MSTA)
The province continues its drive to increase the number of learners who enrol and pass Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Technology from Grades 10 to 12.
In March 2014, the department convened a Summit with all stakeholders to look at mechanisms of improving the participation and performance of learners in Mathematics. The resolutions of this Summit have been crafted into a Provincial Mathematics Strategy.
From January 2014, the province opened the doors of the Maths, Science and Technology Academy (MSTA).
This institution will on the one hand offer intensive training on pedagogic content knowledge to all teachers of Mathematics, Sciences and Technology subjects at both primary and secondary schools and also directly support teaching and learning initially at the 100 secondary schools identified to serve as incubators for production of MST graduates.
So far 20 550 grade 08 learners have been recruited to take Maths and Physical Sciences in the 100 identified secondary schools. All these learners will be receiving extensive support through the years to enable them to graduate with flying colours in 2018.
Additional basic resources such as science and computer laboratories and systems to broadcast lessons will be provided timeously to the identified 100 secondary schools to ensure positive outcomes in this regard.
I request parents to support and encourage their children to choose Mathematics and Science subjects since these create better career prospects and respond to the skills needs of the province. The department has allocated R41 million for MST development and to upgrade and resource the MSTA sub-hubs.
I wish to extend my profound appreciation to big business (BECSA and SASOL) for showing interest and supporting the department in this venture.
Indigenous Languages
Honourable Speaker, the culture, respect and pride of any nation is mainly embedded in its language.
The department is therefore obliged to ensure that languages that are provided for by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa are given parity of esteem.
In this regard, the department will train 1 625 educators on indigenous languages and 90 educators on the South African Sign Language. We thus encourage young people to apply for government bursaries made available for prospective teachers in these fields.
There are currently 40 schools which are piloting the teaching of IsiZulu, SiSwati, Xitsonga, IsiNdebele and Sepedi. These schools were previously not teaching any African Language.
We will progressively roll out the programme to other schools to ensure that every South African child has an opportunity to learn and speak an African Language. We will also implement the South African Sign Language in schools offering education to deaf learners once the policy has been finalised.
I wish to take this time to request our parents to encourage their children to speak and learn these languages at an early age. Research confirms that children who master their home language have a better chance of achieving their educational goals.
The founding father of our democracy and freedom, the late Dr Nelson Mandela succinctly explained this, when he said: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language that goes to his heart”
School Infrastructure Development
Honourable Speaker, we acknowledge that the conditions, location and nature of school infrastructure have an impact on access and delivery of quality education.
We also share a view that the closer a school is to a child’s home, the more likely the child is to benefit holistically in terms of both distance and safety issues.
Where the quality of infrastructure particularly water and sanitation facilities is improved, enrolment and completion rates are also improved and there is less absenteeism.
For this reason, the department continues to build schools closer to communities.
Equally, the department has established three boarding schools that are already fully functional to phase out small schools and provide a conducive learning environment for orphaned and other vulnerable children.
The department will continue to improve its infrastructure planning capacity at all levels. This is a key factor which we have started to address by appointing officials with the relevant skills.
Our priorities for the 2014/15 financial year are to:
- scope and cost the backlogs in line with the gazetted norms and standards on School Infrastructure Development.
- complete the Emakhazeni Boarding School , Tsakane Special School and commence with phase two of Ezakheni Boarding School
- develop and commence with an integrated maintenance plan for periodic and emergency repairs,
- develop an infrastructure master plan informed by the User Asset Management Programme (UAMP) and the Backlog Strategy to form the basis for bidding regarding funding with DBE in terms of the DORA reforms.
- construct eight workshops and refurbish six workshops including provision of equipment for technical high schools as part of the Technical High Schools Recapitalisation Programme.
- construct grade R facilities in schools
- renovate former Mapulaneng College in preparation for the establishment of the ECDI, MSTA Sub-hubs as well as finalise plans for 2015/16 and 2016/17 infrastructure projects and complete all unfinished projects.
The department will ensure that water and sanitation infrastructure improves by constructing 1033 ablution units in 63 schools this financial year. An allocation of R 937 million is set aside to achieve all of the above.
We are equally making a clarion call to all parents and communities to embrace the Rhandza Xikolo Xa Wena Campaign by volunteering their time to improve schools’ surroundings. Our desire is that schools should remain centres for community growth and development.
Schools are assets of the community and no community should allow that they be vandalised. The department will work with SGB’s to eradicate all inappropriate structures, provide water, electricity and sanitation to all our schools by 2016.
Learning and Teaching Support Material
Honourable Speaker, our commitment to ensure that every learner has a textbook for every subject as well as a desk and chair cannot be over emphasised. To this effect, the department has allocated R441 million for the procurement of books and R30 million towards the procurement of schools furniture.
I wish to take this opportunity to urge our parents to work with schools to ensure that school property, books, desks and chairs are at all times returned to schools so that they continue to be used for their intended purpose.
ICT Connectivity
The department is accelerating efforts to roll out connectivity to 1 131 public schools by 2015. We also planned to install safety promotion systems in 368 schools. In addition, the department will ensure that 13 250 educators in our schools are computer literate by the end of the financial year.
The department will ensure that every principal receives a tablet with connectivity to improve communication and administrative efficiencies. The department has allocated R3, 6 million to achieve this noble goal. Equally, 811 curriculum support staff including circuit managers will each receive a laptop before the end of August 2014. An amount of R4.8 million has been set aside towards this course.
These will be used to support schools better and to ensure credible data supply.
Teacher Development
Honourable Speaker, teachers remain our most valuable asset in achieving educational outcomes. For this reason we will continue to support them in various ways through our teacher development programmes.
Teaching remains a noble profession, the mother of all professions. In this regard, we wish to call on our youth to make teaching a career of first choice. The department has allocated resources to support young people who want to take up teaching as a career, particularly in priority areas.
Equally, we are very much concerned about the rate at which teachers opt for early retirement and resignations as this has a negative effect on both the education system and their personal accumulated service benefits. We are therefore making a special appeal to teachers where possible to reconsider this option as a way of addressing whatever challenges they may have.
The Departmental Employee Health and Wellness Unit is available to assist teachers in this regard.
District Support
Honourable Speaker, the department will strengthen the capacity of districts to support schools better and for the enhancement of outcomes by implementing the district policy and aligning structure to function.
In this regard, the post of the Chief Director District Coordination has already been advertised.
School Governance
Honourable Speaker, the 2014/15 financial year marks the end of the term of office for the current school governing bodies (SGBs). We will soon be finalising provincial regulations to enable elections to take place from 06 to 28 March 2015 as per the pronouncement of the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga.
The department will, during the course of this year, present a state of readiness report for these elections which will include capacity building programmes for the newly elected members of the SGB.
School Governing Bodies are very central in creating safe and caring school environments which are free from all social ills. Through the integrated School Safety Strategy, the department will ensure that 1 795 schools have functional school safety committees and shall continue to extend the implementation of the Safe and Caring Child Friendly Schools Programme which is supported by UNICEF.
The department has allocated R2 million towards improving safety in schools. Furthermore, I wish to request our communities to show interest in education matters by participating in the forthcoming SGB elections and by ensuring that schooling is not disrupted by community protests.
School Nutrition Programme
The quest to have our learners fully concentrating in class without the hurdles and pangs of hunger is progressing well. The department has set aside R 525 million targeting 882 809 beneficiaries in this financial year. The National School Nutrition Programme is indeed adding impetus in the quest to improve access to schooling. The department will continue to make every effort to ensure the smooth implementation of this programme in all our schools.
No Fee Schools
Honourable Speaker, we have moved with regards to the implementation of the No Fee Schools Policy.
The department is targeting 888,459 beneficiaries whose parents are not obliged to pay school fees because of the material conditions they find themselves in. This constitutes 91% of learners our schools. This is for us a great milestone as it affords all our learners an opportunity to access education regardless of their socio-economic background and at the same time ensure that no child drops out of school. The department has allocated R439 million to achieve this endeavour.
Scholar Transport
Honourable Speaker, the service to render scholar transport currently vests with the Department of Public Works Roads and Transport hence there is no allocation from the Department of Education.
We are aware that there has been no such service in some parts of the province due to alleged disputes of payments. We are engaging the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport to ensure a speedy resolution so that learners could be in class learning.
Schools Enrichment Programmes
Honourable Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate teachers and learners who represented the Province at the occasion of the South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod held in Durban last week.
Our province obtained overall third position with the following schools obtaining Position One in their various categories, Vulamehlo Primary School, KJ Malaza Secondary School , Sikhutsele Secondary School, and Moses Mnisi Secondary School. I request the house to congratulate these schools.
In the same breath, we congratulate our schools’ sport teams that continue to do well. Special mention goes to Daniye Primary School from Bohlabela District. This school won the 2013 most developing school team of the year award in the country. The award bestowed by the Minister of Sport.
Their soccer team has on a number of occasions represented South Africa in international tournaments. Recently they represented the country in the Milo/Nestle under 13 Africa Tournament held in Lagos, Nigeria where they obtained a bronze medal. This soccer team has graced this occasion and I request the house to applaud them.
It is said that; “All work with no play makes Jack a dull boy”. In this regard, the department in collaboration with the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation continues to unearth and nurture talent and also promote social cohesion in the province.
To this effect, together with the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation we will be handing over 18 Multipurpose Combo Courts to schools located within the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) Local Municipalities.
The department has allocated R18 million to promote and develop sports and culture in schools.
Special Schools
Honourable Speaker, the department has 18 Special Schools which accommodates 3 586 learners. 15 accommodate learners with intellectual disabilities requiring moderate to high levels of support and three are Child and Youth Care Centres which admit learners in need of care and protection in line with the Children’s Act and also those who are in conflict with the law.
An additional school, Tsakane Special School in Bohlabela District will be completed and operational in this financial year. We are committed to ensure that these schools and learners receive our full support at all times. The department has allocated R219 million to achieve this goal.
A further R3,5 million has been allocated to implement our inclusive education programme. This will ensure early identification of barriers to learning and development and design appropriate responses.
We plan to support our multi-disciplinary district-based and school-based support teams to co-ordinate preventative and intervention strategies that will enable all learners to achieve their maximum potential.
In addition, the department will build the capacity of educators and mount advocacy campaigns on inclusive education thus ensuring that no learner is left behind due to their disability and learning barriers.
Independent Schools
The department will continue to hold our Independent Schools accountable for learner performance. We are encouraged that there are signs of improvement at this level as well. The department has allocated R16 million to subsidise qualifying Independent Schools. Improved Performance of the Skills Development System
Honourable Speaker, the need to accelerate the implementation of the Provincial Human Resource Development Strategy cannot be over emphasised.
The province will enhance the coordination of programmes in an integrated manner to increase competency levels of employees and out of school youth through the provisioning of transversal training programmes in order to enhance service delivery to the community of Mpumalanga.
Strategic partnerships with Higher Education and Training Institutions, SETAs, private sector and relevant stakeholders need to be enhanced to fast track the implementation of the Provincial Human Resource Development Strategy and the Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Path.
Coupled with this the province will in this year establish the Provincial Human Resource Development Council in line with the National Skills Development Strategy Three (III) of South Africa.
The HRD Council will provide strategic leadership and monitor the implementation of HRD programmes in the Province in collaboration with key stakeholders.
More-over the province will double its effort to create opportunities for out-of-school youth through skills development programmes particularly in the sectors identified in the Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Plan.
Through the implementation of the Integrated Youth Skills Development Plan the Provincial Government together with other stakeholders will be responding to the resolutions of the Youth Summit held in April 2014.
It is therefore one of our priorities to upscale the number of bursaries that are offered to learners who pass Grade 12; these bursaries are awarded in line with the Provincial Human Resources Development Strategy and the Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Plan.
The department has since the inception of the Bursary Unit in 2012 made strides by working side by side with other departments within the province and the private sector. Currently the unit is adequately resourced to lead this endeavour.
In this regard the department has also managed to:
- Review the provincial bursary policy for internal and external beneficiaries
- Develop a strategic approach to issue out bursaries to deserving students from Mpumalanga Province;
- Establish lines of engagement with bursary holders from the province; by instituting a bursary liaison unit to pro-actively address problems faced by our students;
- Visit different universities to take stock of the state of affairs as it relates to students from Mpumalanga; and issued bursaries to 1 575 students.
The department has allocated R 94 million to assist students who require bursaries for 2014/15 financial year.
I wish to take this opportunity and encourage all deserving students to apply for these bursaries and also ensure that they apply for admission to universities on time. The department has already distributed application forms to all secondary schools and has advertised this through various media platforms within the province. The closing date in this regard is 30 September 2014.
The department in collaboration with other key stakeholders will facilitate the placement of 1000 students in work places for experiential learning.
Equally we continue to make an appeal to big business to support people of the province by offering bursaries to deserving learners in critical and scares skills and to guarantee placement of these students in their own space for workplace integrated learning.
I also wish to thank all business institutions and individuals that are contributing towards this noble course.
Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust (MRTT)
Honourable Speaker, the Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust remains part of the provincial broader plan to unleash experiential practical training through customised and accredited programmes.
This institution is mandated to provide scarce and critical skills in technical knowledge and skills, hospitality and tourism as well as entrepreneurial programmes.
It is also strategically positioned to train the out- of- school youth and to contribute towards programmes aimed at reducing the unemployment rate in the province. Priority will be given to the eight identified CRDP Municipalities and
In 2014, this institution will assist trained young people to form cooperatives so that they can be able to access contracts to maintain buildings.
The province will train at least 1000 out-of-school-youth towards artisanship in this financial year. To achieve this, the department led by the Office of the Premier will enter into memoranda of agreement with Hydra Arc in Secunda and other relevant training providers and business sectors.
To this end the department has allocated R87.6 million to the MRTT.
Adult Education and Training
Honourable Speaker, the department is mandated to reduce illiteracy, improve curriculum delivery and improve learner attainment, assist in creating job opportunities and to lead in the transformation of Adult Education and Training.
To achieve this, the department will:
- provide direct financial resources to the centres;
- train Adult educators for the delivery of Mathematics, Engineering, Primary Agriculture, Information Technology and Computers Subjects;
- prioritise the provisioning of LTSM at all levels for Adult Education and Training Centres.
- promote and support the concept of Community Education and Training Centres (CETCs) at the Kwaguqa Adult Learning Centre.
- introduce NQF Level 4 programmes in one centre in each of Bohlabela, Ehlanzeni and Gert Sibande districts.
The department has allocated R146 million to achieve this.
University of Mpumalanga
Honourable Speaker, the province will continue to work with the Department of Higher Education and Training to ensure the realisation of the goals set with regards to the University of Mpumalanga.
The province will support the construction work of the new university by providing bulk services as required and will transfer the immovable infrastructure and assets as contained in the record of intention.
In keeping with the agreement between the Department of Higher Education and Training, National Institute for Higher Education Mpumalanga and the University of Johannesburg, the department has set aside R3 million to support the training of new teachers at the Siyabuswa Campus.
Honourable Speaker, I wish to take this moment to convey my heartfelt condolences to the family of Professor Connie Mokadi (neé Mogale), the late CEO of National Institute for Higher Education Mpumalanga who passed away on 04 June 2014. She will always be remembered for the key role she played in the establishment of the University of Mpumalanga. I request the leadership of the University of Mpumalanga to consider honouring her in a special way. May Her Soul Rest in Peace!
Administration
We remain steadfast in ensuring a high level administrative capacity that complies fully with the norms and standards set nationally. To this effect, over the past three years the department obtained an unqualified audit opinion. To improve on this, we are pulling all stops towards the achievement of a clean audit.
The department is also moving swiftly to ensure that funded vacant posts are filled on time and that employees are capacitated accordingly. The department is implementing austerity measures to avoid wastages and to ensure that resources are spent on intended purposes.
We will from time to time evaluate the efficiencies and effectiveness of our systems of internal control, risk management and governance. We will put in place processes to ensure achievement of strategic objectives and compliance with laws and regulations.
Request Approval
Honourable Speaker, I request this august house to approve the allocation of Sixteen billion, one hundred and two million, eight hundred and thirty one thousand Rand (R16,102,831) for the enhancement of the delivery of quality education within the Mpumalanga Province in the 2014/15 financial year.
Tributes
I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Honourable Premier, Mr DD Mabuza for the trust and confidence bestowed in me to lead this department.
I also wish to thank the Members of the Executive Council as well as all Members of the Legislature, especially the Portfolio Committee on Education, Culture, Sport and Recreation, for their support. We are indeed indebted to all the people of the Province who have made it their obligation that the delivery of education progresses without any disruptions.
We wish to thank the members of the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign structures at various levels of the system, teacher unions, learner formations, associations of school governing bodies, the media and traditional leaders to mention but a few.
Special gratitude goes to the religious leaders within the ambit of the Moral Regeneration Movement led by Dr MM Nthali in the province who continue to pray for our schools and the department. We request them to continue praying.
We thank business for their unwavering support to the Department and its learners. We request them to continue to rally side by side with the Department to deliver quality education to all our children.
I also wish to thank the Head of Department, Mrs. Mahlasedi Mhlabane and her entire staff for their commitment and dedication.
Lastly, let me thank my family for their support that enables me to soldier on in fulfilling the mandate on my shoulders.
Indeed, Together We Move South Africa Forward.
Ngiyabonga!
