Johnny Makgato, for 2007/08 financial year, Provincial Legislature
Madam Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Honourable Premier
Honourable members of the Executive Council
Honourable members of the Provincial Legislature
Distinguished guests
Superintendent-General and senior management of Eastern Cape Department of
Education
Introduction
It is indeed a great pleasure for me to present my maiden policy speech for
the Eastern Cape Department of Education, for the 2007/08 financial year. In so
doing let me premise my speech by thanking one and all for the congratulations
as well as the commiserations; they were equally well received by myself.
Madam Speaker, a special thank you for Norman Dyer of the Midas Parts
Centre, 14 Todd Street, Port Elizabeth. Mr Dyer found time to write to me not
only to congratulate me but stated that my business acumen will put me in a
good stead in my new portfolio. Madam Speaker, in 1969 after writing my
matriculation certificate I joined a company called Quay Motor Services, now
called Midas Parts Centre. It's a company that I worked for in different
positions. In the process I learnt different skills which were as applicable
then as they are now, albeit evolved over time.
I thank members of the Executive Council ably led by Premier who made my
entrance smooth, my predecessor comrade Mkangeli Matomela, who found time to
seat with me to go through the political report, as well as the members that I
served with in the finance portfolio committee and standing committee of public
accounts for the confidence they placed in me as they congratulated me. Lastly,
I also want to thank my family for the nonchalant congratulations they sent. I
would have been disappointed if they had instead displayed a lot of glamour,
glory, excitement and exuberance as we are not a family of theatrics.
Core business
The mandate of the Eastern Cape Department of Education is human capital
development, through public quality education. The report of the United Nations
(UN) on poor performance of the Republic of South Africa on human capital
development is a serious indictment to us as a Department among other
institutions that are mandated to do the same. My predecessor worked hard with
stakeholders to improve the 2006 matriculations results by 2,5%, albeit the
target of 5%. The analysis of the results reveals that only 3% of the learners
who sat for matric examinations in 2006 attained higher grade mathematics.
There is also an acute shortage of mathematics educators with requisite skills
and qualifications., Schools are poaching from each other, thereby recycling
the same teachers. The underperformance by 11 Dinaledi Schools out of 60, is
attributable to the shortage of these mathematics educators as well as
disparities in resourcing them.
The Council of Education Ministers, mindful of this acute shortage, resolved
to mandate the Minister of Education to solicit help from countries that have
excess mathematics educators, to be contracted over a period as we endeavour to
intensify training of the local mathematics educators. The collaboration by
Eastern Cape Department of Education with the four Eastern Cape universities
and the meeting held with representatives of the three vice-chancellors has
opened a door for the member of executive to enter into partnerships with
individual university. The invitation to the MEC to be part of the
Tele-Conference of Vice-Chancellors and certain deans of faculties needs to be
applauded as a worthy cause. Furthermore, it is the Department's intent to seek
and consolidate mutually benefiting initiatives with the corporate world.
Organisational design
The departmental organisational design does not respond to the challenges of
mathematics that the schools solely need, even the introduction of the national
curriculum statements that advocates for mathematics/literacy as compulsory
learning area from grade 1 to grade 11 (12 in 2008). The Department pitched the
directorate at sub-directorate level. The MEC advocates that in the 2007/08
financial year the mathematics, science and technology directorate be pitched
at chief directorate level with two directors. This cannot wait for the
re-organising of the entire organisational design to be responsive to the core
business of the Department, it's been long overdue.
Current service delivery environment: audits and finance related matters
The Department has been slapped with 10 disclaimers in as many years. The
following are persistent transgressions: extreme weakness in document
management including files and leave records, lack of internal controls, asset
management, financial management etc. The meeting of the audit committee that I
joined midstream confirmed that indeed the Department has not been getting
value for money from the internal audit as well as the audit committee, in
spite of high fees for the seating of their meetings as well as the contractual
payments for internal auditing. The Department is audited in three areas of
operation, i.e. schools, districts, head office and related institutions such
as the Education.
Leadership Institute (ELI).
Madam Speaker, this calls for an integrated plan of overcoming areas of
weakness that will include among others ensuring that all districts offices
have at least three corporate services deputy directors and two assistant
directors namely finance, human resource administration and supply chain
management with requisite skills and adequate support from head office and
schools to be given template for finance management as well as guidance on
asset management.
Furthermore, I fully concur with both the President and the Premier on the
need for a tight performance appraisal system at all levels, starting with the
senior management corps as there is a direct link between performance outcomes
and how the organisation is managed.
The Department did not fare well in some of its programmes notably delivery
of Learner Teacher Support Material (LTSM) and the School Nutrition Programme
(SNP). In my presentation of the budget and policy speech for the 2007/08
financial year, I will touch upon key interventions that my Department is
embarking upon in order to turn around the situation.
Learner-Teacher Support Materials (LTSM)
In the current cycle of LTSM delivery, covering 2005/06, the delivery of
LTSM has not improved significantly compared to previous years and certainly
this is not acceptable to all of us. As the Department we are thus committing
ourselves that, in the 2008 academic year the prevailing logistical challenges
will be eliminated as we are currently re-evaluating the whole LTSM delivery
model.
School Nutrition Programme (SNP)
The conditional grant budgeted for SNP this financial year is R245,576
million. In the next financial year the Department intends matching rand for
rand the conditional grant.
The challenges that have beset this programme in the recent past still
remain a serious concern. I want to reassure you that the significance and
importance of this initiative is not lost on us. We are currently working on a
long-term strategy that is based on interdepartmental co-operation and
structured school community involvement, as well as all relevant
stakeholders.
Curriculum delivery in our schools
As noted above, the incremental improvement in matric performance is
welcomed. The Department will continue to explore creative interventions to
ensure improvement both in quality and quantity of learner outcomes from grade
R to 12. The Department is currently sharpening and refining its learner
attainment strategy to make it comprehensive, sustainable, more focused and
subject oriented. In realisation of these objectives an amount of R16,926,000
million has been set aside. In our quest for an improved public quality
education, the Department has just appointed assessment and examinations board
whose task is to advise the MEC on matters relating to delivery of public
quality education through out the system.
To further add meaning to the above noble endeavour, the Department is
prioritising teacher development and has set aside an amount of R48
million.
School Safety and Promotion of Social Values
The high prevalence of violence in our schools which manifests itself in the
form of substance abuse, rape, assault, vandalism and theft has prompted the
Department of Education to resuscitate the school safety programme in
partnership with the Department of Safety and Security. This programme is
currently being piloted in three local municipalities.
Madam Speaker, we cannot win this battle alone. The Department is calling
upon all stakeholders to collaborate with us in restoring the moral fibre of
our society. An amount of R6,7 million has been set aside to initiate this
programme in 30 schools.
Furthermore, this financial year, in collaboration with the departments of
justice, social development, safety and security and correctional services a
fully serviced, staffed and functional centre for youth in conflict with the
law is being operationalised in Queenstown.
Strengthening School Management
Madam Speaker, I am also equally worried about the degree and intensity of
conflict and feuds in our schools. It would appear that the overwhelming causal
factors stem from the misapprehension of roles and responsibilities between the
principals and school governing bodies (SGBs) and sometimes the ordinary
teachers and the community at large.
In order to arrest and turn around this situation, the induction programme
for newly elected SGBs has commenced in all districts and the Department will
continue to empower the education development officers with the required skills
to remedy the situation. An amount of R13,500,000 million has been set aside
for the purpose.
"No-Fee" Schools
For the academic year 2007, 3 825 schools out of 6 159 or 61% of public
schools in the province have been declared as "no-fee" schools and the majority
of them are in poverty stricken areas. The average amount which can be spent on
a learner is R554 up from R527 in the current financial year. Overall R897,989
million has been set aside for this purpose.
District Development
Madam Speaker, in order to ensure that district offices are adequately
resourced and capacitated, 690 education specialist and 350 corporate support
vacancies will be filled at a cost of R318 million this financial year. In the
first quarter, a district development strategy led by Professor HR Nengwekhulu
will amongst other things ensure that all delegations for district directors
are reviewed with a tacit purpose of streamlining and strengthening district
and school functionality. He will also ensure that our education districts are
aligned to district municipalities. A comprehensive and accelerated skills
development programme with specific emphasis on finance and personnel
management will also be rolled out.
Madam Speaker, the above process will take into account the recommendations
of the October 2006 District Colloquium hosted by the national Minister and the
public service commission report on guidelines on school district management.
To give impetus to the above, a Departmental Service Charter will be published
before 30 April 2007.
Infrastructure
The capital budget for 2007/08 is R625,715 million. A number of 79 projects
will be completed and they include, amongst others, rehabilitation of at least
three worst mud structured schools per district, rehabilitation of 46 schools,
building of 577 additional classrooms, 1 313 toilets, 317 water tanks and
building of assessment and examination centre at a cost of R78 million.
Madam Speaker, in line with what the honourable MEC for Finance has
pronounced on I wish to confirm that the Department is examining mechanisms
through which the eradication of mud structures and accessing of maintenance
budget by schools can be fast tracked as situations such as the one I have seen
at Dalisoka, Masibambane and many other institutions are a cause for serious
concern for all of us.
In order to respond meaningfully to these challenges I am in the process of
finalising partnerships with the East Cape Appropriate Technology Unit (ECATU)
and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to provide assistance and
technical support in the eradication of mud structures and dilapidated
buildings masquerading as schools.
Furthermore, next week I plan to meet the Minister of Correctional Services
to discuss a possible memorandum of understanding (MoU) between our departments
on alternative school furniture delivery mechanisms.
Adult Basic Education (ABET)
The amount allocated to this programme is R149,383 million. The Department's
ABET initiative incorporates the adult literacy and skills development
programme, which has been flagged as a national priority area. With the
province's high illiteracy rate, there is still much work to be done.
Allocation of Bursaries to Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges
The budget allocation for 2007/08 for this programme is R302,200 million.
R78,706 million of this amount is a conditional grant for the recapitalisation
of FET colleges.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to announce that for 2007 academic year the
national Department of Education through the National Student Financial
Assistance (NSFA) has allocated R15,5 million for the most needy of the 3 610
learners who are enrolled in our eight FET colleges. The Department has doubled
up this effort by allocating an additional amount of R5 million.
Early Childhood Development (ECD)
Madam Speaker, the budget for this programme will be R105,753 million in the
new financial year. Furthermore, with effect from 1 April 2007, ECD
practitioners will benefit from an increased stipend that will for the first
time be paid monthly through persal thus acknowledging and restoring the
dignity of the ECD profession. As part of further strengthening ECD sector,
strategic partnerships will be entered into with all the relevant stakeholders
in particular the Department of Social Development around the area of pre-grade
R and the supply of educational toys.
HIV and AIDS
The funding for this programme will be R26,797 million in 2007/08. The HIV
and AIDS and life skills programme of the Department builds on what was started
in 2000/01. It is prioritised in the strategic plan and is funded through a
conditional grant. For the 2008/09 financial year, it is the Department's
intention to match the conditional grant rand for rand through the equitable
share funding.
Madam Speaker, this is a prevention programme that is infused in the
curriculum of all primary and secondary schools. The programme also aims to
support strong management and monitoring systems. The priorities for 2007/08
are as follows:
* Advocacy for the support of the life skills and HIV and Aids
programme.
* The Department will engage in a range of advocacy activities to create a
broad base of support for the programme. These will include recognition of HIV
and AIDS national days of importance, road shows, supporting initiatives for
safe circumcision in partnership with relevant stakeholders such as the house
of traditional leaders including closer engagement of Faith Based Organisations
(FBOs). The budget for this initiative is R4 003 376.21.
Integration of HIV and AIDS into and across the curriculum
This will be achieved through the training of 1 000 master educators in the
foundation phase.
The Department will also continue with the training of educators in the
abstinence based life skills programme, covering 3 438 educators. For this
intervention a budget of R4 557 030.21 has been set aside.
Functional Peer Education Programmes
The Department already has a functional peer education programme covering 1
490 schools.
The goal of this programme is to train and develop learners as peer
educators so that they can role model healthy lifestyle behaviour in their
schools and communities and recognise fellow learners in need of help and refer
them for assistance. The priority for this financial year is to roll out the
programme to an additional 800 schools utilising their allocation of R3 775
761.67.
Holistic Support for Orphans and other Vulnerable Children /Learners and
Respect for the Rights of Those who are Infected and Affected
The Department will assist an additional 460 schools in the establishment
and capacity building of health advisory committees in order to improve the
management of health related issues in schools. A further 600 educators will be
trained in HIV and AIDS related basic counselling skills, so that they can
mainstream HIV and AIDS related needs into the psychosocial services in
schools.
The Department will also work with the department for international
development (DFID) multi-sectoral support programme in the training and support
of 60 school based caregivers and cluster managers. Through this project the
Department wants to strengthen the safety nets for orphans and vulnerable
children in 100 primary schools. The budget for this is R5 178 947.06.
HIV and Aids Workplace Programme
Madam Speaker, what remains as the key challenge is education sector
response to the impact of HIV and AIDS scourge on the teaching fraternity as we
are fast losing teachers and potential graduates on an unprecedented scale
through this epidemic. To combat the spread of HIV and AIDS amongst educators
and other employees, the Department has set aside a budget of R8 million for a
comprehensive prevention, education and care and support programme. This
programme will take into consideration the recommendations of the 2004
Education Labour Relations Council â Human Sciences Research Council
(ELRC-HSRC) study on HIV and AIDS prevalence amongst educators.
Monitoring and Evaluation
In order to be in a position to monitor and appraise performance of all the
objectives set above, a monitoring and evaluation unit will be created in my
office within the first quarter of this financial year. This has been
necessitated by the realisation that we need to have effective and efficient
early warning systems at all critical levels of our organisation.
Strengthening our Communication Systems
On a more positive note, the Department is currently undertaking a
comprehensive overhaul of our communications unit. We realise that part of the
incessant negative publicity that regularly comes our way has been partly as
result of our failure to effectively communicate the strides that we have made
since 1994 in our endeavour to effect meaningful transformation of the
educational landscape.
In addition to this we intend to establish a fully fledged customer focused
call centre in order to facilitate the flow of information and be able to
respond promptly and systematically to the concerns of our internal and
external customers.
Pockets of Excellence
Madam Speaker, let me also use this opportunity to express my sincere
gratitude to all pockets of excellence in our schooling community including,
amongst others, Mr R Ngambu of Ebenezer Majombozi, Mr R Ndabeni of St Johns'
College and Ms Y Dlangamandla of Thomas Ntaba as well as their dedicated
support staff for being amongst the best performing schools in the area of
mathematics and science. Furthermore, the district teams of Mount Fletcher and
Qumbu cannot go unnoticed for their efforts in fast improving learner outcomes
in the past two academic years.
Partnerships
Madam Speaker, I wish to extend a special word of acknowledgement and
appreciation for the role that has been played by FNB, Telkom, Eskom and
Vodacom for their contribution to our school building programme. In the same
vein let me also thank Mr Sipho Pityana who has been instrumental in the
revamping of his Estwhile Pimary Shool, Charles Duna since 2005 to date.
Currently he is working towards providing a computer laboratory.
At this point it is important to recognise and pay tribute to the valuable
contribution made to educational transformation in this province by the British
Department for International Development (DFID) over the past 10 years. This
contribution, totalling £24,5 million (translating to approximately R300
million) has enabled us through our Imbewu Programme, to travel much further
down the road to effective school transformation. Some of the outputs of this
programme now unfortunately in its final year of funding by DFID, have
generated wide interest even at national and international levels. An
opportunity to engage with some of the case studies of this programme as well
as a few other relevant systemic interventions at provincial, national and
international levels will be possible during an international conference to be
held at the end of June.
Budget Allocation
Programme: allocation:
1 Administration: R968,591
2 Public Ordinary Schools: R12 609 444
3 Independent Schools: R35,241
4 Public Special Schools: R336,880
5 FET colleges: R302,200
6 ABET: R149,383
7 ECD: R105,753
8 Auxiliary Services: R218,569
Total: R14 726 061
Conclusion
Madam Speaker, I wish to use this platform to thank the following list of
esteemed colleagues:
* the honourable national Minister of Education
* our honourable Premier
* my colleagues in the Executive Council
* all members of Parliament, especially the Education Portfolio Committee
* the Department's Head of Department, Ms Nomlamli Mahanjana and her team, for
their steadfast and solid support.
Madam Speaker, it is imperative that civil society and communities be
afforded the opportunity to hold the Department and myself accountable and
simultaneously maintain social dialogue with our social partners in the
education sector. That is why the Department intends to convene a Consultative
Education Summit before the end of the second quarter and hold regular
interactive discussions with all the labour unions operating within the
sector.
We furthermore intend to communicate and meet regularly with all
stakeholders in education in the province such as SGBs, the SGB Association,
education foras, student organisations and educators formations on matters of
mutual interest.
Let me also acknowledge the work done by our teams of dedicated educators
and the rest of the schooling community cannot go unnoticed, hence I wish to
express my gratitude to all of them for the sterling job they are doing. In
this regard I intend to further motivate them by ensuring that all salary
related backlogs are addressed as matter of urgency through setting up a
project team led by the Head of the Department.
In conclusion, I hope you have all noted the shocking structure pictured in
the back cover of this speech. All that I want to say about it is that, "A mud
school is indeed a barrier to quality public education."
Thank you!
Issued by: Department of Education, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
14 March 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za/)
