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The Department of Basic Education and organised labour have come together to pledge their commitment to quality education with the recent signing of the Accord on Basic Education. This is an historic moment for education as it marks the beginning of a new era through which all education role players, stakeholders and social partners commit their organisations to support the drive to achieve quality teaching and learning in South Africa. The main thrust of the Accord is to work with identified schools in order that they may, through directed support, meet the challenges that they face.

The Accord was signed in July 2011 at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, by leaders of organised labour; Business Unity South Africa; community constituencies present in NEDLAC and the Minister of Basic Education on behalf of Government.

All signatories – organised labour, business and community formations represented at NEDLAC – pledged their support to Minister Angie Motshekga’s commitment to improving the quality of education provided in public schools.

The Accord enriches the programmes of the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign -- a multi-signatory compact between parents, educators, labour, communities and School Governing Bodies with the goal of achieving quality learning and teaching for all.

Addressing the signatories at Sol Plaatje House in Pretoria on Tuesday, 20 September, Minister Motshekga expressed her excitement for the initiative.
“This is a very exciting programme for us; a major milestone and a huge source of hope,” said the Minister. “Working together with labour and our school communities we can deal with the challenges facing education in South Africa.”
“I am looking forward to what this Accord means and making it work. As a sector we need it,” added Minister Motshekga.

The Minister went on to say that while South Africa has achieved great successes in some areas of the schooling system, a large number of our learners come from a poor environment which has its own set of challenges. There is no doubt that the system is undeniably more equitable and pro-poor than in 1994, and access has improved, but quality and efficiency still pose significant challenges.

“We have noted successes in our work towards the Millennium Development Goals and achieving more gender parity, but it’s in the upper grades that we begin to experience problems,” explained the Minister.
“We notice a big jump in the dropout rate between Grades 10 and 12. Sometimes this is the result of poverty, but it also due to inefficiency in the system that forces these kids out of school” said the Minister.

Minister Motshekga stressed that some of the issues affecting learners are societal issues and suggested that the QLTC programmes should be used as a tool for communities to empower themselves and take a more hands on approach to ensuring learners develop into well-rounded adults.

The Accord on Basic Education commits all signatories to agree to work together to change the mindset among teachers, learners and parents in order to rebuild dysfunctional parts of the basic education system and ensure quality education, particularly in poorly-performing schools.

A key commitment of the Accord will see stakeholders endorse the Adopt-A-School Campaign which entails adopting a poorly-performing school and implement whole school development interventions to promote proper governance, high standards of teaching, discipline and an adequate supply of essential resources.

The Accord envisions that an initial target of between 100 and 200 schools will be incorporated into the Adopt-A-School Campaign in the first year, with this number to increase to more than 500 schools a year in subsequent years.

Addressing the gathering, Cosatu General Secretary, Zwelenzima Vavi described the education system as a three-legged pot, which needs all components to work together to function properly.

“The education system is like a three-legged pot, comprising of parents, educators and learners. The pot cannot stand on its own if you remove one leg and the same goes for the education system. So all role players must do their part,” said Vavi. “We are a country of defiers. Due to our history we have a culture of defying every structure that has been presented to us. We have to undo this culture in some areas and it is a massive step by teachers to commit to this accord.”

Vavi went on to say that because 91% of all dysfunctional schools are found in black residential areas – and attended by the children of the working class – the signatories have the responsibility to ensure that the oppressive and unfair education system of the past is not in place for perpetuity.

Minister Motshekga, along with senior leaders of labour, community and business organisations within the NEDLAC will be launching the Accord on Basic Education and Partnership with Schools in Butterworth, Eastern Cape, on 2 October. 2011.