Question no 1257
Dr J C Kloppers-Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
Whether, in light of the Development Bank of South Africa’s (DBSA’s) statistics on schools, she or her department has formulated a turnaround strategy to address inequalities in education without lowering the standard of education in any school; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. No fee schools we have adopted a policy that ensures that poor learners are not expected to pay school fees. Currently there are over 14 000 no-fee schools in the country, benefiting over 5 million (out of a total of about 12 million) learners.
2. Foundations for learning campaign (supply of workbooks, textbooks and teacher guides to schools have begun improving and increasing this). The Presidency is supporting the department to ensure that all learners and teachers receive the materials they need;
3. Quality learning campaign focuses on a compact between teachers, parents and the government to improve teaching and learning (T&L)
4. Teacher Summit for the first time Departments of Education spoke together with teachers via their Unions on what should be done to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The recommendations of the summit are being taken seriously by the department. Mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the summit declaration is not just a piece of paper.
5. Infrastructure, we have developed norms and standards that commit government to providing school buildings of a particular standard. The backlogs are great and will take many years to address however we are committed to ensure that all schools are provided with the minimum infrastructure for them to work in an enabling environment. The department is seeking creative ways to fund this backlog, especially that of libraries and laboratories. In the meanwhile, schools are encouraged to use science kits and to establish reading corners in classrooms.
6. In his research article (building education beyond crisis), Bloch indicates that the problems in education need to be worked on together with all stakeholders and role-players and proposes a “get-together” for this to occur. This recommendation is supported.
7. The Minister has commissioned a study to look into challenges facing the implementation of the curriculum.
Issued by: Department of Basic Education
11 September 2009
Source: Department of Basic Education (http://www.education.gov.za/)
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