20 February 2001
It is unacceptable that in the year 2001 we are still faced with challenges of access to primary education; thousands of our people are still illiterate, racial discrimination still permeate our education system, the quality of learning and teaching and acquisition of human values and skills fall far short of the aspirations and needs of our people.
This year will be no different from last year. We will continue with our tireless efforts to build a better education system for our people.
We need to build a new patriotism for our new country. As the centre of this struggle to produce a new country with a new pride, morality and values play a crucial role.
Maths, Science and Technology As part of our programme to harness the innate abilities and talents of our learners we will launch a partnership with Wits University for Maths and Science in Education. Part of our target will be Mathematics and Science educators who will go through the BSC in Science Education offered by Wits in partnership with GDE. On 25 February 2001 we shall be launching this partnership.
HIV/AIDS in schools The GDE has distributed Life Skills materials in the form of booklets for primary and secondary schools, awareness posters and pamphlets to learners, educators and parents, activity booklets, and teacher manuals.
The government's programme of ABC, Abstain-Be Faithful and Condomise, will continue. As part of our preventative approach, our primary focus for the year will be on Grade 5,6 and 7. We will at the same time, expand our Programme at Secondary schools. During our budget speech we will announce an amount to be allocated to each school for activities to be coordinated by School Governing Bodies (SGBs).
Development of Anti-discriminatory Policies All schools will have to build within their SGB policies the anti-discriminatory principles articulated in both the Constitution and the South African Schools Act. We are going to urge schools to develop the following policies that will encourage unity in education - a racial incident policy, sexual harassment policy, language policy and religious policy. We will expand on this matter during the Budget Speech on Education.
Social Plan Sports, arts and culture have now become part of the wholesome development of learners. These should not be regarded as extra-curricula but should be part of the core-curriculum.
This year the GDE will spend R20 million in bringing arts, sports and culture to our schools. An integrated Social Plan with the departments of Social Services and Population Development, Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Health, Safety and Liaison, and Local Government and Development Planning is underway to better the learning and teaching environment in our schools.
On 3 March 2001, a provincial awareness campaign on safety and security in schools will be launched. We are currently establishing safety and security committees in schools, and we have giving each school R3000 to this effect.
Recommendations from the Conference on Values in education taking place this week will also be considered as part of the broader social plan in education. Farm Schools Last year we successfully built partnerships between some farming communities and the farmers. We succeeded in ensuring that we sign agreements with farmers. Together with farmers and rural communities, we will continue with these efforts at a faster pace to ensure that the conditions in the 183 farm schools in our province are improved. Examinations We will continue with our set target of 5% pass-rate increment. We will further improve on the intervention Programs to ensure that our learners are more prepared to sit for their examinations. We are confident that we are on course to meet our 75% increment by the year 2004.
Clustering of schools Since finances and resources play a crucial role in the development of our schools, we shall group our schools, throughout the province, into clusters and provide them with R300 000 start-up capital so that they shall collectively be able to raise funds and mobilize resources. Professional fundraisers will be employed to assist schools to effect this programme.
Education Action Zones (EAZ) Last year the EAZ built confidence in the public education system. More and more learners are now beginning to go back to the township schools. We have seen improvements in the Grade 12 results and emergent good management practices in schools. We have supported many schools to ensure that they are stabilised and have also taken action against those who did not comply. We will continue in the same manner. As I speak the entire GDE senior management is on surprise visits to schools.
School beautification During our budget vote we shall announce a programme intending to improve general environment in schools. The Council of Education Ministers has appointed a team to work on a detailed programme to ensure the beautification of our schools; this will include competitions to this effect.
This year we will position our education system to be able to deal with the post-modern learner. We will create the necessary environment to ensure that our learner's energy and talents are properly harnessed and channeled to becoming global citizens. In conclusion, we will once again this year convene the second 'Educationally Speaking' conference that brings together all ideas in our efforts to pursue best practices in education. Together in partnership, we shall face the challenges in education.
Issued by: PWV Gauteng
For more information, please contact:
Lebelo Maloka
011 355 1509
082 902 9880