Dear MyPE The DA is requesting teachers and principals to become proactively involved in assisting the Eastern Cape Department of Education in filling vacant posts in the province. We have started a campaign to encourage teachers to avail themselves for vacant positions. I have been informed that the department has been allocated an additional R200 million from the Provincial Treasury in the current financial year for the filling of vacant posts in schools. The money is available … [Read more...] about Teachers encouraged to apply for vacant posts after R200 million funding boost
edmund van vuuren
No final resolutions to teacher shortages in the Eastern Cape
Dear MyPE I am appalled by the lack of concern and action that has been portrayed by the Eastern Cape Department of Education. I received a letter from a concerned parent whose child attends Kareefontein Primary School in the Eastern Cape which stated that the school has an extreme shortage of teachers and as a result the educational needs of the pupils are compromised. Six foundation phase classes which are made up of 214 children are taught by two teachers. Parents of pupils at this … [Read more...] about No final resolutions to teacher shortages in the Eastern Cape
Athol Trollip is DA Premier candidate for Eastern Cape
The Democratic Alliance's Premier candidate in the Eastern Cape has been announced as Athol Trollip. Making the announcement, Edmund van Vuuren said;" He has his roots firmly in the Eastern Cape. He is a fluent Xhosa speaker and son of the soil. Athol Trollip is passionate about the plight of the rural poor, being a farmer for many years. His track record as a public representative - over 15 years as a Member of Parliament, Member of the Provincial Legislature and District Councillor - … [Read more...] about Athol Trollip is DA Premier candidate for Eastern Cape
Little hope for jobs for EC Funza Lushaka bursary holders
There is little hope for jobs for new teachers who have qualified under the Funza Lushaka bursary scheme despite its slogan, 'Make a difference...become a teacher'. According to the reply to a legislature question I asked the MEC for Education, Mandla Makapula, his department had 5 239 vacancies and 9 144 additional educations as at 27 January. In addition, the department had 846 Funza Lushaka graduates on its database who qualified in 2012 and 2013. These graduates would be "prioritised" … [Read more...] about Little hope for jobs for EC Funza Lushaka bursary holders
Zuma’s comments on mud schools an insult to children
The DA is appalled by President Jacob Zuma's tactless comment made while addressing a crowd at the opening of Ngidini Senior Primary School - a former mud school - in the Eastern Cape yesterday. He said "We want to eradicate all mud schools... We are not in a hurry because no one is going to rule but the ANC". The DA is greatly disappointed that the President would treat such a serious issue in this way. This insensitive utterance is an insult to the hundreds of children who have to endure … [Read more...] about Zuma’s comments on mud schools an insult to children
Support for Eastern Cape Back 2 School-campaign
The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape unreservedly supports the Back 2 School-campaign as envisaged by the he Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign committee in the province (QLTC). It is indeed encouraging that this province will be conducting its first stakeholder Back 2 School-campaign during the first quarter of 2014. The campaign endeavours to include a wide sector of society, including NGOs and faith-based organisations to work in conjunction with the government departments to … [Read more...] about Support for Eastern Cape Back 2 School-campaign
Matric results – Eastern Cape Department of Education’s dismal performance
The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape congratulates all successful matriculants for 2013. The Province’s overall pass mark of 64,9% was announced by the Education Minister, Angie Motshekga. The figure is up from 61,6% in 2012. Although these statistics seem encouraging, the Eastern Cape Province is once again the worst performer in the country, and the only province with a pass % below 70%. (The other eight provinces obtained pass rates between 71,8% and 87,2%) What is most … [Read more...] about Matric results – Eastern Cape Department of Education’s dismal performance
Education DG should be fired
The DA welcomes the findings of the Public Protector into the lack- and incorrect delivery of workbooks to schools in the Eastern Cape. We feel that our complaint has been vindicated by this report, especially in the light of the Education Department's unresponsiveness to the concerns we had been raising. Our recommendation, that specific action to be taken against the national DG Bobby Soobrayan, is also welcomed, but we call on the Minster of Basic Education, Angie Motshega, to fire … [Read more...] about Education DG should be fired
Teacher crisis can be alleviated with early retirement option
Despite the ongoing post provisioning crisis in the province the Eastern Cape Department of Education seems to have made no effort to investigate alternative suggestions in order to address the problem. One solution that the DA has put on the table is that teachers who are in the cohort of 50 to 60 years of age and who are not in critical posts should be offered early retirement without incurring penalties. This will begin to alleviate the decade-long dilemma in the province whereby we have … [Read more...] about Teacher crisis can be alleviated with early retirement option
Only 26% of 2001 EC school intake made it to matric this year
Less than a third of learners in the Eastern Cape who enrolled in school in twelve years ago will be writing their matric this year. According to the reply to a written question I asked the MEC for Education, Mandla Makupula, 74% of learners who entered the system in 2001, did not make it to matric in 2012. Of the 26% (or 72 354 children) who did make it all the way to matric last year, only 14% (or 39 443) of the total cohort actually passed matric. In 2011, the cohort loss from Grade 1, in … [Read more...] about Only 26% of 2001 EC school intake made it to matric this year
Repair of scenic tourist attraction must be prioritised
The scenic and historical R102 Bloukrans Pass between the Eastern and Western Cape will remain closed to tourists, historians and nature lovers because the Eastern Cape administration does not regard the route a priority. With tourism being a major economic contributor in this province, it is imperative that we use our assets to our fullest advantage. The short-sighted approach by the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works is sad news for tourism and bad news for … [Read more...] about Repair of scenic tourist attraction must be prioritised
Cut bloated administration, not teacher posts
The MEC for Education's recent pronouncements on the 2014 school staff establishment whereby 5 024 posts will be cut will have an adverse effect in classrooms and on the general morale of teachers. Instead of cutting teacher numbers, the DA believes that the Department of Education needs to revisit its organogram and downsize its bloated administration at its head office in Zwelitsha and its 23 district offices. According to the Persal system the department employed at total of 80 848 people … [Read more...] about Cut bloated administration, not teacher posts
5 024 educators lost in Eastern Cape under 2014 post provisioning
The Eastern Cape has lost a staggering 8 956 teaching pots in the last two years due to a downward trend by the Department of Education in its annual post provisioning. The department has announced a cut in the post provisioning for 2014 of 5 024 fewer posts than this year. The post provisioning for 2014 will total 55 796, compared to 60 820 in 2013. The 2013 post provisioning made provision for 3 932 less educators than in 2012, from 64 752 posts. The impact of the department's brutal … [Read more...] about 5 024 educators lost in Eastern Cape under 2014 post provisioning
340 000 EC learners go to school without proper toilets
A total of 340 000 Eastern Cape learners attend a school without proper toilets everyday, and in some cases there are no toilets at all. This is according to data obtained by the Democratic Alliance from the Education Department in the process of our Human Rights Commission complaint into school sanitation. The HRC has thanked the DA for submitting this information as it will assist in their investigation into rights abuses in schools. Official Education Department data pins the number … [Read more...] about 340 000 EC learners go to school without proper toilets
MEC must make good on promises about Kwazakhele school
The future of the Ilungelo Public School in Kwazakhele in Port Elizabeth remains unclear despite an undertaking given to me by education MEC Mandla Makupula more than two months ago that he would personally investigate the issue. The school, which is in a decrepit state, is one of the 310 schools gazetted for official closure this year by the Eastern Cape government. However, when I visit the school on 13 May this year, the local community expressed the hope that it would be rebuilt due to … [Read more...] about MEC must make good on promises about Kwazakhele school
