Committees wrap up joint oversight visit to Eastern Cape
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education and the Select Committee on Education and Recreation yesterday concluded their oversight visit to the Lady Frere district in the Eastern Cape. The Committees urged all officials on all levels to assist wherever possible in an attempt to ensure quality public education in the province takes place.
The visit formed part of the Committees’ oversight programme to monitor the state of readiness for schools for 2016. The oversight approach entails visiting provinces, districts, and schools to continually monitor and oversee the implementation of key priority areas. The Committees decided to visit the district due to its poor performance in the 2015 National Senior Certificate examinations.
Some of the key challenges observed by the Committees during the visit at schools they visited includes a lack of effective leadership, a reluctance or incapacity to implement existing school policy and legislation, acute shortage of educators in most schools visited, the slow progress with the rationalisation of schools and closure of non-viable schools and challenges regarding learner discipline like substance abuse and teenage pregnancies.
The Committees further noted the complaints of schools, organised labour and School Governing Bodies regarding the poor quality of stationary supplied. “The national Department of Basic Education indicated that they provided the specifications for the stationary. It is not up to standard. This cannot be tolerated. The service provider needs to account,” said Basic Education Committee Chairperson, Ms Nomalungelo Gina.
The Committees indicated that the close proximity of taverns to schools is of great concern and can likely impact on the substance and alcohol abuse currently found in school. “This cannot be allowed to continue. It is obvious that some learners will go and look for liquor at those places,” said Select Committee on Education and Recreation Chairperson, Ms Lungelwa Zwane.
The delegation noted the response by the department to introduce compulsory drug testing within the parameters of the law. It will also enlist the assistance of the liquor boards in an attempt to close those liquor outlets that are breaking the law by being too close to schools.
The Provincial Department further said it will give priority to the appointment of teachers and principals. District officials indicated that 44 posts were allocated to the district. Although this is not in line with the vacancies, it will have to prioritise the most needy schools. A meeting had already been convened with the suppliers of Learner Teacher Support Material to address the issue of shortages and poor quality.
The Committees resolved that communication between the provincial department and its officials should be improved; the roll-out of the rural incentive scheme requires urgent attention to ensure that sufficient competent teachers are motivated to take up posts in remote areas.
The delegation further pleaded with officials to implement decisions taken/agreed upon as at time acting like a federal state. A plea was also made that the province implements the good practices that they learn from other provinces.
“We all have a responsibility to turn the situation around, some are just a little bit closer to the situation. Let’s all play our part,” Ms Zwane emphasised. Both Chairpersons said the willingness to put plans in place provided hope. They also indicated that Parliament would be monitoring the implementation of such plans.
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