questions in the National Assembly
9 November 2006
"The emphasis on new initiatives is important since the matter of safety in
schools has become a matter of national concern in recent months; we have been
preparing over the past year to make a systemic change to the way we prevent
crime and violence in and outside our schools," the Deputy Minister of
Education, Enver Surty, said in the National Assembly today.
The Deputy Minister was prepared to answer six questions. They dealt with
school violence, school violence statistics, the tender process for learner
support materials, university mergers, university merger finance and teacher
training.
Question 370
Ms H Lamoela to ask the Minister of Education:
(1) Whether there are any grounds for complaints from students from
previously disadvantaged higher education institutions (HEIs) that they are
often marginalised in the new merger institutions as far as reasonable fees and
equal working conditions for staff are concerned, if not what is the position
in this regard, if so what are the relevant details?
(2) Whether the merged HEIs mainly reflect the values and norms of former
advantaged institutions rather than accommodate the needs and aspirations of
formerly disadvantaged communities, if not what is the position in this regard,
if so, (a) to what extent and (b) what are the further relevant details?
N2134E
Reply:
1. Yes there have been complaints of marginalisation and we have attempted
to address genuine grounds for complaint. Institutions have managed through
structured stakeholder dialogue to develop unitary policies for staff and
students. These include policies on academic programmes, student support and
administration and student fees. Currently most merged institutions have
harmonised conditions of service, staff salaries and student fees. While these
policies were developed through an inclusive process, there continues to be
perceptions of inequality. The Department of Education through the Merger Unit
continues to monitor the impact of the choices and decisions of institutions
with a particular focus on student fees.
2. The mergers of HEIs are intended to create new institutions with a new
institutional culture and ethos. This is a complex process that cannot be
achieved in a short time. New councils have been appointed with a mandate to
define strategic plans and to give effect to new visions of inclusive
universities.
Question 369
Advocate AH Gaum to ask the Minister of Education:
1. Whether any new initiatives have been taken by her Department and the
provincial education departments in view of numerous recent incidents of an
escalation of violence, crime and a lack of discipline in our schools. If not
why not, if so what are the relevant details?
N2133E
Reply:
The emphasis on new initiatives is important since the matter of safety in
schools has become a matter of national concern in recent months. This is not
to say that the issue of safety has been ignored in the past. Various important
steps have been taken. Laws, policies, frameworks and guidelines have been
developed to address crime, violence, drug use and abuse in schools. The
primary protection for learners in this regard is the set of Regulations for
Safety Measures at Public Schools, published in terms of the South African
Schools Act in Government Notice No 22754 of 12 October 2001.
However, we have been preparing over the past year to make a systemic change
to the way we prevent crime and violence in and outside our schools. The
Department of Education in partnership with the Centre for Justice and Crime
Prevention has piloted the Hlayiseka (Be Aware � Take Action) project in
Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. It is an early warning system of
reporting crime and violence. A final report was submitted to me on 4 October
2006 and we are developing implementation and operational plans to make the
system work in all provinces.
There has been much comment in the press about a national pilot project to
tackle crime and violence at the worst affected school in each province.
Provincial education departments were requested to identify a school in their
provinces and suggest interventions that could be made to prevent crime and
violence.
I can report that all provinces have submitted business plans to the
Department of Education for consideration. Schools have identified
interventions ranging from fences, burglar proofing, floodlights, alarm
systems, metal detectors, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) technology and the
appointment of safety officers.
Finally, at its last meeting on 23 October 2006 the Council of Education
Ministers agreed to take the following measures to improve school safety.
First, a national template for a code of conduct will be made available to all
schools. Second, the 2001 Safety Regulations will be made widely available in a
simplified form. Third, a national consultative forum on school safety will be
convened before the end of this year.
Question 368
Mr RS Ntuli to ask the Minister of Education:
(1) When will her Department implement the new policy framework for teacher
training and development?
(2) Whether there are specific criteria to be followed when allocating
bursaries to teachers, if so what criteria?
(3) Whether the implementation of this policy will eradicate the shortages of
teachers in learning areas like mathematics, science and technology, if not
what is the position in this regard, if so what are the relevant details?
N2132E
Reply:
(1) The National Policy Framework on Teacher Education and Development has
only been published for comment and will only be formally declared as policy
when comments have been taken into account. However, R700 million has been
allocated for a full cost bursary scheme linked to a service contract with
provincial education departments for student teachers over the current Medium
Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period which includes R180 million for
2007.
(2) Preference for bursaries will be given to students who come from rural
areas and who will be more likely to teach in rural areas once qualified and to
students who want to train in subject areas where teachers are in short supply
such as maths, science and indigenous languages. In addition interviews will be
held to test the affinity of the candidates for teaching.
(3) The policy will begin to address but not eradicate in the short term,
the shortages of teachers in areas like mathematics, science and technology.
Concern over teacher shortage is an international problem, very few countries
produce enough teachers for themselves and the problem of teacher shortage is
particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa. We live in an era of employment
mobility and teachers, like doctors and other professionals know that their
skills are in demand all over the world. We will employ foreign teachers if
they are suitably qualified and able to teach our curriculum.
Question 354
Dr SM van Dyk to ask the Minister of Education:
(1) In light of the fact that R157 million of programme six for Higher
Education (HE) has been carried over from the previous financial year to the
current financial year, (a) what was the cause for the delay in finalising the
merger of tertiary institutions and (b) when will the operational plans be in
place for (i) the merger of North West Technikon, Technikon Northern Gauteng
and Pretoria Technikon into the Tshwane University of Technology and (ii)
restructuring the University of Zululand and the University of Venda?
(2) Whether the R157 million will still be released in the current financial
year, if not what is the position in this regard?
N2108E
Reply:
1 (a) There has been no delay in "finalising the merger of tertiary
institutions". However, there was a delay in finalising the institutional
operating plans of the Tshwane University of Technology, the University of
Zululand and the University of Venda in the 2005/06 financial year due to the
complexity of the merger and restructuring of the institutions.
(b) (i) The institutional operating plan for the Tshwane University of
Technology has now been finalised and approved.
(ii)The restructuring plan for the University of Venda has been approved
while the plan for University of Zululand is currently being finalised.
2. Yes Tshwane University of Technology has received R87 222 million in
re-capitalisation funds and the University of Venda has received R26 767
million. Re-capitalisation funds for the University of Zululand will be
released within the current financial year.
In addition I have a table that I will make available to members of the sums
spent on mergers, recapitalisation and infrastructure. To summarise R570
million has been spent on recapitalisation, R923 million directly on mergers,
R91 million for the incorporation of Vista campuses and R462 million on
infrastructure.
Question 352
Mr GG Boinamo, Democratic Alliance (DA) to ask the Minister of
Education:
(a) How many children have been (i) killed and (ii) assaulted on school
grounds over the past six months up to and including October 2006 and (b) what
steps is her Department taking to prevent this violence in the future?
N2106E
Reply:
(a) I have provided an answer to this part of the question in my answers to
previous questions on the same theme: 702 (19 June 2006) and 1176 (15 September
2006).
(b) For an answer to this part of the question I refer the honourable member
to my answer to oral question 369 (9 November 2006).
Question 338
Mr AM Mpontshane to ask the Minister of Education:
(a) Whether the provincial tendering processes concerning the supply of
learner support material has been found to be satisfactory, if not why not, if
so why are there delays in the supply of school books to schools each year?
N1566E
Reply:
The short answer is yes and no. The procurement and distribution of Learning
and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) is the responsibility of the provincial
departments of education. The processes and procedures differ quite
substantially from one province to another. The procurement chain from
specification to delivery is complex and depends on the timeframes attached to
the screening and requisitioning processes.
The Department of Education has negotiated timeframes with the relevant
stakeholders including booksellers and publishers for the timely delivery of
learner support material to schools in 2007. The Department is monitoring the
provincial education departments' processes to ensure that stipulated
timeframes are complied with. Monthly progress reports in this regard are
submitted to me.
The provincial departments have improved their tendering processes over the
years. They have awarded their tenders for the 2007 school year. However,
delays in the supply of school books do occur. Most delays are due to the late
ordering of books and/or services, delivery processes and the fact that some
books are not readily available on demand specifically with top ups that are
out of print when ordered.
The Department has established a consultative forum, which is represented by
all stakeholders, to look into the procurement and distribution of learner
support material across the country. All problems encountered are reported at
the forum and collectively, creative solutions are sought to remove obstacles
and impediments that may hamper the process.
For further details contact:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: (012) 312 5538
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: ngqengelele.l@doe.gov
Issued by: Department of Education
9 November 2006
