PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION ON THE VISITS UNDERTAKEN TO THE NORTHERN CAPE AND GAUTENG PROVINCES DURING 28-31 JULY 2003 AND ON THE 1st AUGUST 2003 AT SACE OFFICES.

 

NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE

 

DELEGATION LED BY: MR LM KGWELE

RECOMMENDATIONS:

That the Northern Cape Department of Education should:

    1. Develop and communicate a plan to schools to address schools needs such as, water provision, sanitation, telephones, under-utilised classrooms, school hostels running below maximum capacity, equipment, sports facilities, libraries, laboratories, administrative support staff and develop a plan to address them.
    2. Consider introducing, practical simplified administration forms for OBE as the current forms present an administrative nightmare for educators.
    3. Investigate challenges encountered in the transition between the General Education band and the Further Education and Training band as a result of the Outcome Based Education curricula.
    4. Encourage integration and the advancement of equality of opportunities to all population groups particularly at institutions such as the Agricultural High School in Jan Kempdorp, the Department should consider introducing bursary schemes for learners from previously disadvantaged communities to gain access to the school. In the long term this will promote formal entry into the agricultural sector, and stimulate local economic development and contribute towards the national effort of building a united, non-racial, non-sexist democratic and prosperous society.
    5. Revise the Norms and Standards for funding of the Agricultural High School and Technical Schools in the Province so that weighting is used to recognize its needs and expensive equipment and support needed by such institution.
    6. In partnership with the Department of Agriculture should encourage and assist with the development of food gardens to ensure support of and sustainability of the school nutrition programme.
    7. Strengthen the Life Skills Programme and HIV/Aids awareness programme among learners.
    8. Determine minimum amount for stipends to be granted for unemployed parents engaged in the school nutrition programme as the present arrangement undermines the poverty alleviation objective of the initiative, which perpetuates abuse of persons and exploitation.
    9. Re-organise as part of the human resource development objective, the provision of ABET to ensure effectiveness, accountability and relevance of programmes to local economic development, providing skills for participating in the economy.
    10. In partnership with the private sector, develop and expand technical education to improve the skill base and job opportunity prospects of learners.
    11. Incorporate training in cultural diversity in the capacity building programme for School Governing Bodies and the education management development programme.
    12. Provide accredited certificates to SGB members who attend capacity building training modules as this incentive will boost their confidence and encourage attendance of future workshops.
    13. Foster co-operate and resource sharing, develop a governance model for ABET centers that are inclusive of adult learners, elected tutors, community representatives, the School Manager and representatives of elected SGB members of schools from which they operate.
    14. Ensure that ABET learners using Agricultural High School at Jan Kempdorp have access to properly resourced classes and are not treated as outcasts.
    15. Develop early warning management systems to ensure timeous intervention in conflict situations.
    16. In partnership with the Department of Health monitor health conditions in school hostels, particularly schools hostels on farms schools.
    17. Establish a task team to negotiate and finalise agreements with property owners on whose properties, public schools on private properties are located.
    18. Determine minimum standards for provision of facilities for all schools with hostels. And that they should prioritise the filling of vacant post for educators.
    19. Arrange programmes for workshops and training courses for educators in such a way as to avoid disruption of learning and teaching programmes at school.
    20. Strengthen the Legal Unit within the Department in order to ensure successful representation whenever the Department is challenged legally in court.
    21. Request the National Department of Education to assist the Province develop appropriate strategies and programme for implementation of White Paper 6 on ELSEN and ECD.
    22. Request the National Minister of Education to appoint a Ministerial Task Team to investigate the extend and impact of the cross border learner encroachment phenomenon on the education budget of the Northern Cape Education Department.
    23. Pursue its transformation objectives with a view to integrate schools at the level of personnel, management and school governance. Clustering of schools for sharing of resources and amalgamation of schools to remain open options to ensure effective and productive deployment of resources. Schools with underutilized classrooms and hostels should be optimally used to
    24. absorb learners who walk long distances to school. And that the Department intervene with a view to resolve accommodation of educators at Bodulong Combined School in Bankhara.

       

       

       

      DELEGATION LED BY: Ms PN MNANDI

    25. At the Fransiscus Primary School in the Siyanda region, the Committee recommended that the School Governing Body should engage the councilor on the municipal rates that depletes the entire school budget.
    26. The Committee recommended that since the neighbouring school is having a teacher who provides piano lessons, an arrangement should be made by both schools to extend the piano lessons to Fransiscus learners.
    27. That Vela Langa Primary School be merged with the neighbouring Primary School which is nearer to it to offset the utilization of local churches as classrooms to create space and sharing of resources.
    28. That the Provincial Portfolio Committee urgently intervenes in addressing all the problems currently faced by Paballelo High School in the Siyanda region such as, shortage of staff, lack of furniture and poor communication between the school and the Department.
    29. That the Northern Cape Education Department (NCED) conducts a workshop on the Review of Norms and Standards.
    30. That the vastness of the Province is not taken into consideration during the equitable budget allocation.
    31. That SGB members be compensated for work done in improving the standards of good practice at the school.
    32. That a team of researchers be commissioned by the National Ministry’s Office to conduct research on the high level of teenage pregnancy in that region.
    33. That the SGB’s and professional persons such as teachers, psychologists develop interventionist mechanisms to address the issue of teenage pregnancy.
    34. That the Provincial Government look at moral regeneration programmes to address the problem of teenage pregnancy and how those programmes are factored into schools.
    35. That special dispensation is sought by the provincial Department, such as funding, for the continuation of the nutrition programme at Uitzig Primary School.
    36. That a meeting between the Department and the farmers be convened to encourage farmers to contribute towards the school nutrition programme and be made aware of the importance of illiteracy eradication.
    37. That the Principal at Brandboom Primary School together with the Department and the Provincial Government meet to discuss measures to improve on the ABET programme (the school’s classrooms are utilized for lessons).
    38. That the SGB, SAPS, CPF and the community work together to combat violence in Langerberg School.
    39. DELEGATION LED BY: PROF SM MAYATULA

      GAUTENG PROVINCE

    40. The Committee recommends at Riversand Farm School that when the school is relocated, the buildings should not be demolished instead be used for other educational purposes.
    41. That cohesive partnership amongst private and public schools should be encouraged.
    42. That more intergovernmental approach should be adopted. That means that the Department should work together with department of Social Development to visit farm schools and assisting in acquiring birth certificates for those learners, and teachers should also assist learners gain access to Child Support grants.
    43. That the compensation that is given to mothers that are volunteering to assist in feeding schemes programmes should be standardized.
    44. That at Sandisa Day Care Centre, the Provincial Government should prioritized Grade R education in previously disadvantaged areas such as Alexandra.
    45. That at Nokuthula Centre for the Menatally challenged the Department should employ suitable qualified teacher assistants and the school makes efforts to market its artwork at events such as exhibitions.
    46. That at Khutlo-tharo School, the idea that the Department identifies schools as magnetic ones, should be popularized in Provinces.
    47. That at Thabo Vuyo LSEN School in Sebokeng, be provided with occupational therapists, and their post levels should be upgraded into post level three and classrooms should be provided.
    48. That at Umbila Farm School, a suitable site should be identified for the construction of a new school.
    49. That the District Officers make a follow up on partnerships and agreements entered into with farm school owners.
    50. That the Department for short-term relief should encourage students who have passed Grade 7 to enroll with High Schools nearby and subsidised transport be provided.
    51. That the Department should liaise with its counterpart in Mpumalanga where the farmer owns another school, to forge working relations with the District Officers.
    52. That the Department should encourage learners who qualify for child support grants to register.
    53. That a solid fence/wall should be built around the school to combat crime and vandalism.
    54. That the idea of emblazoning the South African Flag on the school walls need to be encouraged in all schools.
    55. That at Kwathema Adult Education Centre that the school should employ permanent educators and the budget for ABET Centres be increased and
    56. That at Sunrise Primary LSEN School, the school should apply for a government-subsidized transport.

MEETING WITH SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL FOR EDUCATORS

The Members of the delegation were briefed on registration of educators, professional development and ethical standards.

POINTS RAISED ON THE OPERATION OF SACE:

To approach the Minster for a levy of adjustment to cope with the challenges in the profession

The Council had accepted the Professional Development Policy to guide SACE and the profession

The Council’s decision to make quality assurance interventions to seek out gaps in the professional development and to secure remedies

The endorsement of the concept of Sectoral registration as an improvement of the one general type of registration presently administered

The Council reaffirming its commitment to ensure that all practitioners in the Early Childhood Development sector are professionalised and registered

The Council’s emphasis of its commitment to partnerships for professional development and the Council’s issued its Annual Report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMENDATION

The Principal of Nokuthula Centre for Mentally Handicapped were requested by the Committee to furnish a profile of the medallists, for commendation, and the principal should be invited to the debate of the reports in Parliament in 2004.

    1. Ms Arina Bronbacher of Riversand Farm School.
    2. The two gold medallists who represented South Africa at the Special Olympics in Ireland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Prof SM Mayatula DATE:

CHAIRPERSON