At a time when the youth of our nation should be taking centre stage, we see the light dim down on the futures of our neediest students. Minister Blade Nzimande, yesterday, announced that the Department of Higher Education and Training has secured R1 billion towards the NSFAS crisis. Many who have been commenting on the matter reckon that the student body should be grateful for this development, and right they are. However, the NSFAS crisis has still not been resolved. A large portion of … [Read more...] about R1 billion NSFAS injection not enough
education
East Cape monitors learner transport
The Eastern Cape Department of Transport, together with the Provincial Portfolio Committee of Education, is this morning monitoring the transportation of pupils to schools across the province. Eight groups comprising departmental officials, MPLs and researchers will visit different schools in Alfred Nzo, Amathole, Chris Hani, Mthatha, Cadadu, Port Elizabeth, Aliwal North, and Bufallo City. Provincial traffic officers will also conduct inspections on all scholar transport routes to check … [Read more...] about East Cape monitors learner transport
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
5 Tips on saving for your child’s education
As the end of the academic year approaches here in Port Elizabeth, saving for your child's education may already be on your mind for next year. Perhaps you are wondering how you will pay school fees next year or whether you can afford to send him or her to university one day. According to a report published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, South Africa has the worst unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 24. Without a tertiary education, the chances … [Read more...] about 5 Tips on saving for your child’s education
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
Eastern Cape civil servants are eating well
The amount spent in the last financial year (2012/13) on catering by all provincial departments was R87, 197 million. In contrast the amount spent on staff development was R95, 955 million, according to a DA analysis of the latest annual reports of departments. In a province where departments consistently blame capacity problems for poor service delivery, it is scandalous that almost the same amount is spent on catering as on staff development. In many departments more was spent on catering than … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape civil servants are eating well
Benefiting the Employees of Tomorrow
Grade 10 learners - the 'employees of tomorrow' - stand to gain from a landmark agreement signed this past on Friday, 11 October, between the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) and the Eastern Cape Department of Education, which will see the implementation of a comprehensive life skills development programme specifically for them. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) sets the tone for youth development particularly in evolving study skills, career and self-development, social and … [Read more...] about Benefiting the Employees of Tomorrow
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
Another 217 Eastern Cape school principals to receive rapid skills training
In KwaZulu-Natal, schools managed by principals who have undergone the Principals’ Management Development Programme (PMDP) have significantly outperformed “non-trained” schools. Since late 2012, the PMDP was rolled out by the Department of Education (DoE) in the Eastern Cape in partnership with ETDP SETA and has been delivered to 150 of the Eastern Cape’s over 5 000 schools. However, on Friday, 14 June 2013, the Eastern Cape’s Department of Education’s Chief Director: Education Professional … [Read more...] about Another 217 Eastern Cape school principals to receive rapid skills training
EC teacher crisis remains as Minister withdraws
Over 8000 teacher vacancies remain even as the Basic Education Department announces its withdrawal from the province. It is clear that the national intervention by Minister Angie Motshekga failed to deal with this central problem in Eastern Cape education. The main driver of the vacancy crisis is SADTU's opposition to the reassignment of 6 800 teachers in excess at their current schools to classrooms where they are needed most. Neither the national Eastern Cape Departments have shown … [Read more...] about EC teacher crisis remains as Minister withdraws
Maths Skills Add up to Higher Earnings
Angela Harrison (Education correspondent of the BBC News) reports that a recent study shows that maths skills add up to higher earnings. The British government-funded studywas carried out by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). While the study was conducted in England where the government is overhauling the maths curriculum at primary school it is not country or culture specific and is as relevant in South Africa as it is in any other country. It is unlikely that maths education in South … [Read more...] about Maths Skills Add up to Higher Earnings
Legal action against teachers will take too long
The DA welcomes the Eastern Cape Department of Education's announcement that it will take action against teachers who are refusing to be transferred from their current schools where they are in excess. The Department announced today that it had instructed its labour section to start disciplinary procedures against such educators. This time-consuming approach will not work however. In the meantime our children will continue to suffer poor education because of cramped up conditions and … [Read more...] about Legal action against teachers will take too long
Additional R1.2 billion Eastern Cape adjustments budget welcomed
The Democratic Alliance welcomes the additional funding for Health (R568 million) and Education (R466 million) in the Adjustments Appropriation Bill tabled in the legislature on Tuesday afternoon. This however will not be enough, as the health department will still overspend. Of deep concern is the decline in the equitable share over the next three financial years of R5,1 billion due to the province’s weighted average decreasing, as a result of the new census figures. This has severe … [Read more...] about Additional R1.2 billion Eastern Cape adjustments budget welcomed
School Uniforms Distributed to Needy Learners
Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Cllr Zanoxolo Wayile, joined the Municipality’s Expanded Public Works Programme and members of the Education Task Team to distribute school uniforms and stationery to learners in need at the Malabar Primary School today. The children who received uniforms, shoes and stationery were Malabar Primary School victims of a bus crash on 26 June this year, children who lost their belongings in a fire in Walmer and orphans from New Brighton who were living in child … [Read more...] about School Uniforms Distributed to Needy Learners
ANC called on to support motion for bailout to save 11 000 EC teacher jobs
The Democratic Alliance will table a motion with notice this afternoon for the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature to instruct Education MEC Mandla Makupula to enter into immediate negotiations for a financial bailout. The motion also calls for the MEC to table a plan in the Portfolio Committee of Education of how the financial shortfall in the education budget will be dealt with as well as how all substantive vacant posts will be filled. MEC Makupula viciously attacked me in a sitting of the … [Read more...] about ANC called on to support motion for bailout to save 11 000 EC teacher jobs
