The Eastern Cape Education Department has falsely advertised the availability of 3 650 teaching posts. The Department actually intends to cut 3 932 teachers from the system in 2013. The false information was published in a Departmental bulletin issued on 30 September. MEC Mandla Makhupula has already conceded that the Department has no intention of filling the 3 650 posts advertised. He was responding to DA questions in the legislature's education committee on Tuesday. The DA calls on … [Read more...] about Education Department falsely advertises 3 650 teaching posts
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Legislature requested to discuss textbook shortage and filling of vacant posts
The Democratic Alliance in Bhisho has submitted a request to the Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature in terms of the rules that important issues around education in the province be discussed in the House as a Matter of Public Importance (Rule 126). The next sitting of the legislature will be on Tuesday, 14 August 2012. It is time that Education MEC Mandla Makupula accounts to the elected public representatives of the Eastern Cape as to the current crisis in education. The … [Read more...] about Legislature requested to discuss textbook shortage and filling of vacant posts
EC workbook shortages reported to Public Protector
The DA has asked the Public Protector to investigate the Education Department's failure to solve chronic workbook shortages in Eastern Cape schools. To date we have not received a satisfactory response from either the Minister or the MEC to letters of demand dated 22 and 23 July and 2 August. The DA has identified chronic workbook shortages in the Port Elizabeth and Queenstown districts. Late last week, on a visit to the Louis Rex Primary School in Queenstown we were informed of a shortage … [Read more...] about EC workbook shortages reported to Public Protector
Education Department misleading public on burnt textbooks
The Eastern Cape Education Department has embarked on a campaign to mislead the public rather than coming out with the truth about the destruction of textbooks at the Fort Beaufort warehouse. Yesterday the DA identified thousands of textbooks lying burnt in and around an Education Department district warehouse. The Department's spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani claimed that the books belonged to an old teacher's college that was closed in 1998 and that the books were more than a decade … [Read more...] about Education Department misleading public on burnt textbooks
Eastern Cape workbooks: blame game does not help learners
While the Eastern Cape Provincial Education Department and the National Department of Basic Education play the blame game, the education of thousands of learners in the Eastern Cape are at risk. The Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education was placed under administration in March 2011. After the Democratic Alliance (DA) exposed thousands of workbooks being returned to government warehouses as a result of ordering mistakes both the provincial and national administrations have attempted … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape workbooks: blame game does not help learners
Scholars Blocking Roads
At around 10:10 am this morning approximately 100 scholars and parents erected blockades and commenced burning tyres at the corner of Marock and Standford Roads. They are refusing to move or take down blockades until Education Department representatives have come to meet them and the scholar concerns are listened to. Eye on Community … [Read more...] about Scholars Blocking Roads
Temporary Appointment of Mthunywa Ngonzo as Education Superintendent General Supported
The Democratic Alliance supports the temporary appointment of Mr. Mthunywa Ngonzo as the superintendent-general of the Eastern Cape Department of Education in the place of Adv. Modidima Mannya. He has a long record of serving in a senior position in the department, which includes deputy director-general in 2007 and acting superintendent-general in 2009. I believe that Mr. Ngonzo is the best person currently available among the senior management in the department.He has the necessary … [Read more...] about Temporary Appointment of Mthunywa Ngonzo as Education Superintendent General Supported
Sadtu Drives EC Head of Education out
Sadtu has finally succeeded in driving out the head of education in the Eastern Cape. The DA has learned with regret that Adv. Modidima Mannya, Superintendent-General of the Department of Education has succumbed to the undue pressure exerted onto him by Sadtu and has stepped down with immediate effect. This is not in the interest of education in the Eastern Cape, in view of some of the successes achieved and implementation of programmes which would have taken the department forward. Sadtu … [Read more...] about Sadtu Drives EC Head of Education out
Education Department officials no-show illustrates contempt for legislature
The no-show of officials from the Zwelitsha head office of the Department of Education in the Provincial Legislature on Thursday 23 February 2012, when the report on schools-visits was presented to the House illustrates contempt for this institution. This unpalatable conduct is a slap in the face of the MEC for Education, the Premier and for legislative processes in general. This disdainful behaviour is indicative of the mess the education is currently in. This is also a sign of disrespect … [Read more...] about Education Department officials no-show illustrates contempt for legislature
Department of Basic Education Calls for Public Comment on NEEDU
The Department of Basic Education wishes to invite all education role players, including principals, teachers and education stakeholders as well as non-governmental organisations, education experts, and interested members of the public, to comment on the NEEDU (National Education Evaluation and Development Unit) Bill, which was published for comment on 23 December 2011 (Government Notice 907, Government Gazette 34858). The draft Bill is available for download on the DBE website, … [Read more...] about Department of Basic Education Calls for Public Comment on NEEDU
East Cape Province Caves in to Union Pressure
The provincial government has caved in to union pressure which is a further setback to the state of education in the Eastern Cape. As a result of the compromise made between the Eastern Cape provincial government and unions including Sadtu and Nehawu today. Education in the Eastern Cape is not the winner and the interest of the unions has once again been put ahead of our learners. An agreement was also made that the redeployment of additional teachers will be put on hold until such time that … [Read more...] about East Cape Province Caves in to Union Pressure
Education Department Must Seek an Urgent High Court Interdict
The Eastern Cape Department of Education has no choice but to seek the help of the courts if it wants schooling for the 2012 academic year to get going in this province. I agree that a complaint should be registered against Sadtu with the South African Human Rights Commission, but the investigation may be time consuming with no immediate resolution for the impasse. I would strongly suggest that the MEC for Education, Mandla Makupula, and his Superintendent-General, Adv. Modidima Mannya,on … [Read more...] about Education Department Must Seek an Urgent High Court Interdict
Calling for Help is Not an Acceptance of Defeat
Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet has called on all government structures in the province to work collectively in assisting the Departments of Education and Health, which account for more than 75% of the provincial budget. Both departments have come under fire in recent months over alleged cases of wasteful, fruitless and irregular expenditure as well as under-spending on the infrastructure budgets. According to Kiviet's spokesperson, Mahlubandile Qwase, the Premier has urged that … [Read more...] about Calling for Help is Not an Acceptance of Defeat
Department of Education Action Welcomed
The Democratic Alliance, through its persistent and continuous debates and interaction with the Department of Education, is pleased to announce that more than 1 500 of 2 103 temporary educators have, as an interim measure, been appointed in substantive vacant posts. This will relieve the pressure on those schools with a dire shortage of teachers responsible for teaching critical subjects, such as Mathematics, Physical Science, Accounting and English. We appeal to the Department to have … [Read more...] about Department of Education Action Welcomed
Intervention Plan for EC Schools
The Department of Basic Education has appointed a technical team comprising senior officials under the leadership of the director-general, to develop a problem analysis and draft an intervention plan for the Eastern Cape. Addressing the National Council of Provinces on Thursday, Basic Education Deputy Minister Enver Surty said the team will work collaboratively with senior counterparts in the Eastern Cape Department of Education. Surty said his department had consulted with the leadership … [Read more...] about Intervention Plan for EC Schools
