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DoC: Statement on the meeting of the Council of Education Ministers held in Pretoria on 24 November 2014

Angie Motshekga
Angie Motshekga

25th November 2014

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/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga hosted the final Council of Education Ministers (CEM) for the year in Pretoria yesterday (24th November). CEM comprises of the Minister, the Deputy Minister and all provincial MEC's who discuss critical matter affecting the Education sector.

The meeting received reports on the state of infrastructure roll out and progress in the implementation of the Norms and Standards for school infrastructure. The also received a progress report on the roll out of ICT in schools, a process which will be dealt with using Governments operation Phakisa.  As well as preparations towards the School Governing body elections to be held across the country next year.

Among the matters discussed with Education Ministers in Pretoria yesterday was the implementation of recommendations contained in the National Senior Certificate Ministerial Task Team report. Heads of Education Departments made recommendations to CEM on a number of the recommendations emanating from the report, those included Life Orientation and Technical Mathematics. CEM agreed that raising the pass mark for the NSC must be considered as part of improving the quality of education in South Africa, it was agreed that this should be done incrementally. Further details on the implementation of the report are still to be finalized, and recommendations that have major policy implications will be processed through further consultation and investigation.

CEM also took a decision that the publishing of individual Grade 12 learners' results should be reviewed.  However, the Ministers resolved that the results for this year would still be published in newspapers this year, but will only reflect the learners ID and exam numbers.  The decision follows a recommendation of the Task Team that the practice of publishing the names of the individual learners in the newspapers should be reviewed.

STATE OF READINESS FOR 2015 ACADEMIC YEAR

The integrated National Strategy for Learner Attainment Framework (NSLA), which is a comprehensive tranversal strategy to co-ordinate provincial improvement plans and steer them towards the optimal performance of all learners,  has been revised for GET and FET for 2015 in a bid to achieve sustained improvement in learner outcomes, enhance accountability  measures at all levels of the system, ensure greater focus on the basic functionality of schools, protecting time for teaching and learning, improve support for teaching and learning and increase efforts on time on task.

During the 2015 academic year there will be an a focus in the following areas:

- Education of learners with special needs.
- Education in schools with multi grades.
- ECD
- MST
- FET schools
- LTSM Coverage and usage
- tracking learner performance quarterly
- Impact of ICT
- Impact of extra classes
- impact of support by Subject advisors
- Impact of Language interventions
- Impact of LTSM
- Utilization of subject profiles and targets and,
- Impact of teacher development and learner performance.

SOUTH AFRICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

DBE has completed the development of the SA Sign Language it has been gazzeted as policy. Training of teachers is underway and teacher assistants and provincial officials has been completed. The meeting was pleased to receive the report that the SA Sign Language will be implemented in Foundation Phase and Grade 9. Provinces will prepare schools for implementation. An implementation plan has been provided to provinces.

DEVELOPMENT OF SGB GUIDELINES FOR THE INTEGRATED SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMME (ISHP)

The ISHP is a joint initiative between the DBE, Department of Health and Social Services to provide health services in schools. The purpose of developing guidelines is to ensure that clear and consistent messaging to guide and mediate the practical implementation of the ISHP with parent in general. Specifically provide information of sexual and reproductive health services and to consult with parents prior to these services being offered. This would include information on circumcision, contraception, STI and pregnancy screening, condom distribution and HIV counseling and testing.

DRAFT SCREENING, IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT POLICY

The draft policy on screening, identification, assessment and support has been revised taking into account public comments. The policy went out for public comment on April 14th this year and the public response to the policy was very positive. The policy will now go into the final stages with the intention to implement it in 2015.

This was the final CEM of the academic year, it was agreed the next meeting will take place on the 29th of January 2015. MEC's were invited to attend the release of the ANA results next week.

 

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