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The Eastern Cape Province is back on track with significant improvements in six priority areas such as the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), Learner Teacher Support Material (LTSM), scholar transport, infrastructure, budget stabilisation and teacher recruitment.

This emanated from the Deputy Minister’s 3 day visit programme aimed at reviewing the state of quality learning and teaching in schools across the province. Mr Surty and Eastern Cape MEC for Education, Mr Mandla Makupula, met with senior management, district directors and principals to review the progress made since the Eastern Cape Department of Education (EC DoE) had been under administration.

The Deputy Minister’s programme took place at the Education Leadership Institute, East London, from 4 to 5 September 2014.

According to the EC DoE progress report, the province made good progress in terms of teacher recruitments. Currently, 382 posts have been provided to address teacher demand and supply in six districts, including Graaff Reinette, Grahamstown, East London, Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Sterkspruit. The DBE is working on a long term teacher demand and supply strategy that will guarantee the province the supply of critically required personnel. The delivery of LTSM stood at 98% when schools re-opened in January this year. Scholar transport is back in full operation and a total of 57126 learners from Quintiles 1-3 are benefiting from the service. Infrastructure delivery improved commendably with a budget expenditure of 98% by close of the financial year. Budget stabilisation efforts have paid off well with acceptable under-expenditure of 2% by close of the financial year. Huge progress has also been made in terms of the NSNP. The EC DoE also partnered with Tiger Brands to provide the second meal to leaners.

The MEC said that, now that the province has managed to address some challenges experienced in schools, a high pass rate for the National Senior Certificate results of the Eastern Cape Province for 2014 will be achieved. “I am quiet delighted that things are getting back to normal in this province. This year, we hope to achieve 70% in the National Senior Certificates,” said the MEC. MEC Makupula explained that, although the province has registered a significant improvement in these priority areas, a lot of work still needs to be done around the rationalisation and re-alignment of schools.

Currently, there are still schools with a low learner ratio. This has a negative impact on efficiency and quality in Eastern Cape communities. The MEC told the sitting that schools that have had low learner enrolment figures need to be merged because they were difficult to resource. Mr Makupula mandated the district directors to meet with parents in various communities and explain to them the reasons why dysfunctional schools have to be merged. “I thank the National Department of Basic Education for having worked hand in hand with the province in improving quality learning and teaching in schools,” said MEC Makupula.

Deputy Minister Enver Surty, who has been mandated to focus on the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State and Western Cape in this term, expressed his satisfaction about the progress made in the province thus far. The Deputy Minister told the principals to promote ICT connectivity so that learners can be taught basic computer skills before they proceed to tertiary education. Deputy Minister Surty encouraged the district directors and principals to be hands-on and to ensure that the syllabuses are completed within the expected time frame. “If we want to improve literacy and numeracy in South Africa we have to make the necessary resources available to all our schools. Teachers need to be trained in order to promote a high pass rate in Maths and Science. “We have to hold each other’s hand to ensure that Eastern Cape learners are afforded quality education,” Mr Surty concluded.

Issued by: Department of Basic Education