Policy and Budget Speech to be delivered by MEC for
Education, Mrs Reginah Mhaule, Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature
14 May 2010
Honourable Speaker, Mr SW Lubisi
Honourable Deputy Speaker, Ms Violet Siwela
Honourable Premier, Mr DD Mabuza
Honourable Members of the Executive Council
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Head of Department, Mrs
Honourable Speaker, quality education is the foundation for human capital
development.
Let me acknowledge that quality remains a target that we
should always work towards.
Matters pertaining to the state of education in our
province are common knowledge which I am not going to reiterate, but instead, I
through this presentation plan to show how we can work together to improve the
situation. Indeed “Together we can educate the Nation!”
We remain certain that all of us present in this august
house share the view that children of this province deserve better. I feel
humbled that I am tasked to lead the revolution of making the delivery of
education in this part of our country a better one.
Motivated by our vision to accelerate excellence in
education delivery, we believe it is time to go back to basics and to tackle the
challenges facing the sector.
Our idea of going back to the basics in this context means
that:
- We should create opportunities for learners,
particularly those from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds to access
education.
- We should improve the attainment of learning outcomes
by all learners, particularly at key exit grades.
- We should provide minimum resources to schools for
effective learning, teaching and assessment to take place. We should provide
and create conducive and safe learning spaces in our schools, and we should
provide a qualified and knowledgeable workforce in all our classrooms and
schools.
Honourable Speaker, keeping the above in mind, the
education sector nationally has agreed on outcomes and targets that we all must
reach by the end of 2014.
Our target is to ensure that at least 60% of our children
at Grade 3, 6 and 9 achieve appropriate levels on Literacy and Numeracy
outcomes. Our target is to increase the participation and the number of learners
passing Mathematics from the current 9 596 to 18 000. Our target is to increase
the participation and number of learners passing Physical Sciences from the
current 5 979 to 13 000
Our target is to increase the number of matric graduates
qualifying to study towards Bachelors’ Programmes at university from the current
6 552 to 13 112. In the same vein we shall have to improve the overall pass rate
at matric level if we have to provide the requisite skills base that the
province so need. Our target is to attain at least a pass rate of 70% by 2014.
To achieve these outputs, Honourable Speaker, the sector
has prioritised the provision of universal Grade R by 2014, development and
provision of relevant learning and teaching materials and the administration of
national tests at Grade 3, 6 and 9.
Access to education
Mpumalanga is amongst the poorest provinces in the
country. This means that the majority of our learners are dependent on state
intervention to access education.
No fee schools
Honourable Speaker, our drive to ensure access to
education for all learners is encapsulated from the vision of the Freedom
Charter. We have made it our obligation not to fail the people of this province
in this regard. This year, we are
extending the No Fee policy to all Quintile 1- 3 schools in the province to
benefit 699,157 children. This represents 71.31% of all school going children in
the province. We have set aside a budget of R38.6 million to achieve this.
Transfer of funds to schools
In 2005, the province proclaimed all public schools as
having been granted Section 21 functions in terms of the South African Schools
Act. I must admit though, that this is ideal if we need to have Self Managing
Schools. However, this proclamation has come with unintended consequences.
We shall therefore initiate discussions with relevant stakeholders to
review our position on this matter. For 2010/11 we have allocated R259 million
to transfer directly to all section 21 schools.
To enable schools to operate optimally throughout the
year, three transfers will be made with the first 50% due by the end of May.
Once the schools have submitted audited financial statements, the second
transfer of 25% will be made in September and the last 25% by the end of January
2011.
Learner wellbeing (NSNP) and dealing with the scourge of
HIV and AIDS.
Honourable Speaker, a hungry child will not be able to
concentrate nor benefit from education. The department will in this year
continue feeding learners but also extend the number of learners benefitting
from the National Nutrition Programme from 623 313 to 738
015. This includes learners in Quintile 2 Secondary Schools introduced
to the programme from April 2010. Our plan is to extend the programme to
Quintile three secondary schools in April 2011. A total of R354 million has been
allocated to the programme. This includes a R600 monthly stipend
we are giving to Volunteer Food handlers and the training of SGBs to ensure that
they start taking ownership of the programme and thus monitor the quality of
provisioning.
Honourable Speaker, through our Life skills Education
programme we shall train 4 620 educators, 3 200 learners as Peer Educators with
special emphasis on HIV and AIDS and other related life skills programmes.
We shall establish 400 additional schools as centres of care and support.
This will enable us to preserve these children for the future. We
will also host a provincial Soul Buddyz congress drawing from the successful
national congress we hosted last year. This will help to
ensure that our learners are constantly involved and engaged in matters
pertaining their health status. A budget of R15 million has been
allocated to deliver this programme.
Scholar transport
Honourable Speaker, the necessity of providing scholar
transport services cannot be overemphasised. No child should be denied access to
education because there is no school close by. The department will continue to
identify learners in need of this service and work closely with the Department
of Public Works, Roads and Transport to meet the need. 70 000
learners will in this year benefit from this programme.
Independent schools
There are 114 independent schools registered in the
province, with 33 of these receiving subsidies from government. I must admit,
that there are varied standards in this sector which need our urgent attention.
This year, we shall focus on finalising policies and monitoring the operations
of independent schools to ensure that there is policy compliance and that the
standards of provision are at acceptable levels. We have already developed a
protocol for communication to improve consultations
between ourselves and the independent school sector under the Mpumalanga
Alliance of Independent Schools. In this year, we have allocated R11 million to
subsidise qualifying schools.
Public special schools
There are 3 735 children currently attending school in 18
Special Schools. This, Honourable Speaker, does not represent all learners
requiring this specialised service. We estimate that there may be 3 000 children
with disabilities out there not attending school. We reiterate our call to
parents, guardians and communities to ensure that all these children are sent to
schools. We are improving our systems to meet the needs of these learners as we
move towards attaining the Education for All goals. We
have allocated a total budget of R195 million towards this programme.
Improving learning outcomes
Improving learner attainment is our priority of
priorities. We will not rest until our children can operate and achieve at the
same levels with their peers in the country. Our inputs and processes in this
year going forward are aimed at realising that.
Early childhood development
Honourable Speaker, our collective view is that Early
Childhood Development forms a solid foundation for learning and thus the basis
for improved learning outcomes. We will this year going forward work tirelessly
to improve access to ECD but also to improve the quality of service we provide
in this sector. We have set a target to reach universal provision of Grade R by
2014. At this pace we are confident that the province will meet universal
provision even before 2014.
ECD is a sector where different spheres of government,
departments, business, religious and all communities should hold hands and work
together. We each have a role to play if we want to change this country for the
better. We will this year train 880 Practitioners towards an ECD Teacher
qualification; we will also train Child minders, Cooks and Gardeners.
We will together with the Departments of Social
Development and Health run pilots for integrated ECD services in our Primary
Schools. We indeed need to find solutions specific for Mpumalanga problems.
These pilots will enable us to determine the best model of ECD delivery for the
province.
Honourable Speaker, I take this opportunity to announce
that we have improved the stipend provided to our ECD Practitioners from R2000
to R3 500 per month effective April 2010. We will also ensure that this stipend
is received monthly as we will also from this year pay all our ECD practitioners
through PERSAL system. The Department of Education has allocated a total budget
of R125 million to ECD programmes this year.
Improving literacy and numeracy
I have earlier indicated that our target is to have all
children in Grade 3, 6 and 9 attaining appropriate levels on literacy and
numeracy outcomes. We therefore intend to improve
performance in Grade 3 Literacy from 34% to 42% and in Numeracy from 33% to 42%.
We will improve performance in Grade 6 Literacy from the
current 27% to 40% and in Numeracy from 26% to 40%. We will be
implementing the Annual National Assessment for the first time in Grade 9 this
year and aim to at least attain 50% pass rate. All our energies have to be
channelled for the realisation of these goals. We will in this year train all
Foundation Phase Curriculum Implementers to be able to support the teaching of
literacy and numeracy within the Foundations for Learning Programme.
Through funding from national, all our primary schools
will receive workbooks and all learners will sit for national assessments in
literacy and numeracy. This will enable us to monitor and have information on
learner progress towards the attainment of outcomes.
Quality Improvement Development Support and Upliftment
Programme (Qids –Up)
Honourable Speaker, this government will always be biased
towards the poor. Through the QIDS-UP programme 353 primary
schools will receive additional resource for literacy and numeracy. We are
piloting the use of young matriculants to assist schools and learners to develop
these foundational skills. Thus 200 Learning Support Assistants have been
appointed in 100 primary schools. We believe that the experience they shall gain
will also lure these young minds to joining this noble profession, the teaching
profession. We have allocated a budget of R28 million for this
programme.
Teacher development and school leadership
We will continue supporting educators in curriculum
delivery. We have taken a conscious decision to focus on improving school
leadership. As a result we shall train 400 newly appointed principals and also
register 100 school principals on a school leadership qualification. We have
allocated a total budget of R39 million for this programme.
Time on task remains the key input for learning. Teachers
should be in class on time, teaching for at least seven hours a day. The
agreement between ourselves and teacher unions on the Quality Learning and
Teaching Campaign has identified this as a non-negotiable. The department has a
big role to play in ensuring that teachers are not only held accountable but are
supported, appreciated and acknowledged for their effort. In this regard, we
will recognise excellence in education through the National Teaching Awards and
celebrating the World Teachers’ Day.
We will with effect from this financial year subsidise all
permanently appointed educators in schools who procured laptops in terms of the
Teacher Laptop Initiative. These laptops will enable them to access information,
prepare their lessons and thus sharpen their practice. A budget of R21 million
has been set aside for this programme.
School governance
Honourable Speaker, education is a societal phenomenon.
Parents as individuals and as a collective through School Governing Bodies
should support schools. We have had successful SGB elections in the last half of
the 2009 school year. This year, we have set aside R2 million to capacitate 8
000 newly elected members of SGBs, 550 Teacher Liaison Officers, and 40 Master
Trainers on Youth Leadership Development. This will ensure that schools are
governed properly. In addition, the department will also establish a task team
to develop standardised financial reporting systems for all the public ordinary
schools.
School safety
Honourable Speaker, violence and crime in our institutions
cannot be tolerated. What has happened to Mr Mohale Matsobane, Circuit Manager
for Witbank two and others last year cannot be allowed nor condoned by any
civilised society? We shall therefore continue working with the Department of
Community Safety, Security and Liaison and other departments to reduce
incidences of crime in schools. The department will train 2 500 members of
School Safety Committees on Hlayiseka Early Warning Systems and other safety
issues.
FET colleges
Honourable Speaker, the provision of Vocational and Adult Education
Programmes now lies with the Ministry of Higher Education. The province will in
the transitional period continue to deliver these programmes. Mpumalanga is
ranked second after Western Cape in the overall National Curriculum Vocational
examinations in 2009, with all our FET colleges ranked in the top 12 out of the
50 colleges in the country.
A budget of R286 million has been made available through a national
conditional grant for FET Colleges.
MRTT remains our flagship for skills development in the province.
An amount of R29.5 million has been allocated to
MRTT to train at least 1 200 young men and women on various skills programmes.
Again we will also in this year finalise the legal framework
governing this institution.
Adult Basic Education and Training
Public Adult Learning Centres have also done very well and are ranked
4th in the country obtaining an overall 62% pass rate for the ABET Level 4
examinations. We will train 400 under qualified and
unqualified educators towards an ABET teacher qualification and ensure that all
employees working in this sector are remunerated on time.
We have budgeted R98 million for ABET programmes
Honourable Speaker, the mass literacy campaign is indeed
working. We are each year exceeding the targets we have set for ourselves. There
are currently 60 000 adult learners in the Kha Ri Gude programme. We urge other
adults to take up this opportunity.
Mathematics and Science
Honourable Speaker, Mathematics and Science remain the
cornerstone of skills development in any country. We are encouraged by the
increase in the number of learners taking Mathematics and Physical Science in
Grade 12 particularly girls. Our challenge though is to ensure
that these learners also pass these subjects. Our target is to increase the
number of learners passing Mathematics.
We will continue working very hard with our partners,
particularly from Business and Industry to make this a reality. Together with
Anglo American, MTN and others we will be opening a Science Centre in Emalahleni
Municipality on 01 June 2010. It is a second in the province after the one
established with Mondi in Piet Retief. We are aware of a number of businesses
supporting schools in the teaching of Mathematics and Science. Our Dinaledi
schools are also benefitting from these business initiatives. I am not going to
be able to mention all of them here but would like to acknowledge the staff from
Vodacom - Nelspruit and the National Development Agency that are volunteering
their services on Saturdays to teach at ZB Kunene. This is one example that must
be emulated. Together we can Educate the Nation!
Matric Improvement Programme
Learner attainment at Grade 12 remains our challenge in
the province. We have in 2009 performed below the national average but also
below all other provinces. The department has developed a Matric Intervention
Programme which has been supported by the Executive Council. Through this
programme, we urge all schools to introduce a ccompulsory
one hour study period at least two days a week and to have extra classes in the
morning, afternoon and on Saturdays.
Honourable Speaker, preparations are underway to hold
winter schools across the province and a three week residential study camp for 4
000 learners during the winter school holidays. Expert teachers from performing
schools have been identified to teach at these holiday classes. The
Dial-in-Tutoring programme will operate from 08h00 to 16h00 on Mondays to
Fridays during the world cup period to help Matriculants with their learning
programmes.
Our focus, Honourable Speaker, will be on the 66 schools
that obtained below 20 % pass rate with emphasis on Bushbuckridge Region.
We continue to support performing schools to maintain and improve the
quality of passes.
Management of examinations
In 2009 we had an examination question paper leakage. This
incidence and previous examination related irregularities led to the national
Minister of Basic Education taking over the function of examination
administration in the province. We intend working very hard to improve our
systems and structures to ensure that we can resume this function sooner rather
than later. We are engaging our partners in the labour formations to
re-establish the examination unit. Once this is done, a process to recruit, vet,
train and strengthen security measures will commence.
Infrastructure
It gives me pleasure to inform this august house that the
commitment we made last year of building Cyril Clark Secondary and John Mdluli
Primary Schools has been accomplished. The second phase of these schools shall
be completed in this financial year.
This year we will build at least 18 extra Grade R Centres
in Primary Schools and upgrade four special schools namely Pelonolo, Ethokomala,
Masianake and Mantjedi.
Honourable Speaker, this year we will eradicate mud and
unsafe school structures. The department has already commenced
with a feasibility study towards the establishment of school hostels and will
commence with processes for abolishing one teacher schools.
We have put aside an amount of R503 million for
infrastructure development.
Honourable members, we have an agenda to make all our
schools ICT Compliant by 2014. All secondary schools will go live in this
financial year. We have allocated an amount of R7, 4 million towards
connectivity.
Development of HRD Strategy
In this year, we will in collaboration with key stakeholders develop a Provincial Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategy with the view to provide a pipeline of quality talent for the province. We will also in this financial year establish systems and structures to take over the management of bursaries in the provincial administration.
Improvement of systems
The Department of Education has for the past number of
years been getting a qualified audit opinion. We are strengthening our systems
and capacity to ensure that in this financial year, 2010/11 we receive a clean
audit opinion. We have already with effect from 1 April 2010 appointed the Chief
Financial Officer.
Configuration of the organogram
Honourable Speaker, we have begun a process to
re-configure the organisational structure so that we enabled to deliver services
in an effective and efficient manner. The target is to deploy resources to
Districts and Circuits as this is where they are mostly needed.
Included in this process, is the reconfiguration of our
regions so that we alleviate the pressure from Ehlanzeni. The Executive Council
has already approved the establishment of Bohlabela as the fourth education
district.
Establishment of a university for Mpumalanga
Honourable Speaker, in his State of the Province address,
the Honourable Premier indicated that the national government has granted
permission for the establishment of a fully-fledged university in the Province.
I want to take this opportunity to indicate that the
Minister of Higher Education and Training has already established a task team to
accelerate all processes leading to the attainment of this objective. Parallel
to this, a consultative process to name the envisaged university will commence
as pronounced by the Executive Council.
Partnership with private sector
Honourable Speaker, indeed Together We can Educate the
Nation. I wish to take this opportunity to appreciate and acknowledge the work
done by the business community in education. Through the Education Development
Trust. We will establish two e-Learning clusters in the Nkangala District.
We will also commence with the construction of a Secondary School in Acornhoek.
This will be done in partnership with Vodacom and Buffelshoek Trust. I take this
opportunity to invite other business partners wishing to support education to
join the Trust. Truly, as Victor Hugo, a French Poet says “He who opens a school
door, closes a prison”
Appreciation of excellence
All the above programmes, Honourable Speaker, find
expression based on our shared vision of accelerating excellence in education
delivery. In this regard, I request this august house to acknowledge the
following individuals who have excelled in their different education related
activities.
Simphiwe Mtsweni and Simphiwe Nyembe from Balfour High
School and Kiriyatswane High School in Gert Sibande Region who represented South
Africa in COSSASA Games in Swaziland where they obtained position one and were
awarded gold medals for Football and Netball respectively.
Mavis Silinda, a learner from Sofunda Secondary School who
obtained position three nationally for the SADEC Essay Competition. Mr F Vosloo
from Estralita Special School obtained position one at the National Teaching
Awards in the Excellence in Inclusive Education and Special Needs Teaching
category.
The Staff from Nelspruit Vodacom office who volunteered
their time and resources to teach grade 12 learners at ZB Kunene on Saturdays.
Lastly, Ms Dolly Sono for her outstanding performance in her B.Ed studies at the
University of Fort Hare. She passed 30 out of 34 modules with
distinctions making her the first student teacher from Mpumalanga to graduate
cum laude.
I take this time Honourable Members to officially assign
her to volunteer as our Ambassador for our campaign to recruit learners to take
teaching as a career.
There are many more individuals who continue to rise above
the expected norm in their different fields of engagement. We will always salute
them.
Conclusion
On this note, Honourable Speaker, I request this august
house to approve the R11.5 billion allocated to the Department of Education to
deliver on the above mentioned mandate.
I also take this time, to extend my appreciation to the
visionary leadership of the Honourable Premier, Mr. DD Mabuza, Members of the
Executive Council. Members of the Portfolio Committee, Officials, Educators’
Unions, Learner Formations, Association of School Governing Bodies, Business
Community, my family with special reference to my Mother, the general public and
to all who continue to support the vision of making education the key pillar in
making the lives of our people better.
Thank you.
Budget breakdown:
Programme 2010/11: Estimated
- Administration: 989 890
- Public Ordinary School Education (see further split
below): 9 652 872
- Independent School Subsidies: 11 400
- Public Special School Education: 194 635
- Further Education and Training: 329 508
- Adult Basic Education and Training:
97 846
- Early Childhood Development: 124 553
- Auxiliary and associated services: 129 548
Total:
11 530 252
- 1Current
payment: 10 388 308
- Compensation of employees: 9
217 097
- Goods and services: 1 171 211
- Transfers and subsidies: 684 219
- Payments for capital assets: 457 725
Total: 11 530 252
