The Eastern Cape Education Department could potentially cut 11 287 teaching posts from the system for the 2013 school year. This is due to a shortfall of R3.42 billion to fund the 64 752 teaching posts currently budgeted for in 2012. This information was presented to the legislature's Education Committee by Superintendent General Mthunywa Ngonzo this week. Besides Provincial Treasury's planned 1% cut in budgets for all Departments in 2013/14, the Education Department also faces a R1.6 … [Read more...] about 11 287 Eastern Cape teaching posts could be cut in 2013
education
40 000 workbook shortage the fault of EC Education Department
The DA has written to Education MEC Mandla Makupula demanding an urgent response to serious claims by Minister Angie Motshekga that the Eastern Cape is responsible for chronic problems in workbook deliveries to schools. According to the Minister's figures, 24 862 workbooks were sent to schools in the wrong language and a further shortage of 14 711 workbooks was reported for the first half of the year, as of 5 June 2012. The Minister blames these problems on incorrect school and learner … [Read more...] about 40 000 workbook shortage the fault of EC Education Department
Legislature sitting cancelled to avoid burning education issue
The fact that the ruling party in the Bhisho Legislature is doing everything possible to avoid a public debate to discuss poor service delivery in the province is more than just suspect. They are shielding the members of the Executive Council from the scrutiny which they get subjected to during House sittings. MECs have to answer the hard questions and provide answers during these sittings. The DA's request to the Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature in terms of the rules that … [Read more...] about Legislature sitting cancelled to avoid burning education issue
Bonus Friday Rant – Even (So Called) Private Education Suffers
I have been giving advice to a friend with regards to his better half's problems in receiving her final pay after resigning from a local higher education business (I would have said institution but don't think they deserve the title). After much to-ing and fro-ing with the local General Manager and then an escalation to the National Office of Greed her pay was finally settled this morning. This is not the first complaint that I have had of this particular instituion of NON-Service … [Read more...] about Bonus Friday Rant – Even (So Called) Private Education Suffers
Friday Rant – Education
On 5 September 2011 Mrs Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, presented the keynote address at the 16th SAOU School Principal Symposium in Port Elizabeth. (Click here for the entire speech) I have cherry picked certain statements out of the Minister's speech and reproduced them below. We are a year on after the speech and I certainly cannot see any change, if anything we (YES, we, as every citizen of South Africa is to blame for allowing this to happen) have seen a further slide into … [Read more...] about Friday Rant – Education
53rd Founders Day for Theodor Herzl Schools
High, Primary and Pre-Primary pupils and staff got together to celebrate Theodor Herzl School's 53rd Founder's Day anniversary on Friday. In the image below - from front left are Tannith Brito, 5, Reshaan Govender, 10, Amber Dickson, 12, Fikile Ximiya, 8, and Anda Nongogo, 5. From the left behind them, are Campus Head Stephen Fay, newly elected Head Prefect Sean Soutar, 16, Pre-Primary Principal Buffy Allanson, newly elected Deputy Head Prefect David Bolton, 17, and Primary Headmaster Kevin … [Read more...] about 53rd Founders Day for Theodor Herzl Schools
Human Rights Commission must investigate Department of Education over collapsing schools in the Eastern Cape
Today I visited the Lovemore Park Farm School in the Eastern Cape. This school, just 15 minutes outside of Port Elizabeth, has been abandoned by the Department of Education, and is on the brink of collapse. The terrible conditions in which these children must endure is not only an infringement of their constitutional right to access education, but is also in clear violation of the constitution’s emphasis on the rights of the child being of paramount importance in all matters. For … [Read more...] about Human Rights Commission must investigate Department of Education over collapsing schools in the Eastern Cape
Friday Rant – Education in SA
This morning I ploughed through the interview of Mr Mrara, Chairperson of the Oversight Committee for Education in the Eastern Cape by Theunis Pienaar of Kingfisher FM. And all I heard was "ehm ehm ehm ehm", "budget", "demanding", "challenges", "issues" "very optimistic", "um, um, um", "focus on management challenges" ..... With 3 600 Eastern Cape temporary teachers still in limbo, schools not being paid for these temporary teachers, schools having to raise fees and do without essential … [Read more...] about Friday Rant – Education in SA
MEC must account for severe PE District workbook shortages
Eastern Cape Education MEC Mandla Makupula has been summoned to the Legislature to account for severe workbooks shortages identified by the DA in the Port Elizabeth district. He will appear before the Portfolio Committee on Education on Friday. It is clear that a situation similar to Limpopo is now developing in the Eastern Cape. The vast majority of schools contacted by the DA are experiencing massive shortages. Our monitoring of the PE district warehouse confirms that no additional books … [Read more...] about MEC must account for severe PE District workbook shortages
No real freedom without decent education
The following is an extract from a Freedom Day speech, delivered by Bobby Stevenson at the West End Community Hall, Port Elizabeth, Friday, 27 April 2012, at 11:00: Life is better in South Africa since we obtained freedom in 1994. For this we celebrate and rejoice. We must at all times never take this freedom for granted and must be vigilant in protecting our rights under the Constitution. It is one thing to enjoy the freedom that we have under our Constitution. It is another thing to … [Read more...] about No real freedom without decent education
Top 40 Under 40 Hand Over 900 Pairs of Shoes
The city's Top 40 Under 40 business people from the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBCC) proved their dedication to education by donating 900 shoes toward the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's uniform collection drive on Tuesday, 17 April. The uniform collection drive is spearheaded by the Executive Mayor, Cllr Zanoxolo Wayile, and is led by the Municipality's Education Task Team. The campaign has been greatly supported by various stakeholders in the city and is aimed at collecting … [Read more...] about Top 40 Under 40 Hand Over 900 Pairs of Shoes
How About Attending Church in New Brighton to Pray for Education?
A special day for education in the city will be taking place this Sunday, 5 February at the St Stephen's Anglican Church's Annual Education Service in New Brighton. The special service will see local businessman and community builder, Sipho Pityana as the guest speaker as he will encourage the many high school pupils that will attend the service, to prioritise education as it is a key to their future. Pityana will also be joined by the Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Cllr Zanoxolo … [Read more...] about How About Attending Church in New Brighton to Pray for Education?
Eastern Cape Matrics – Welcome to the DUNCE Class of 2011
Once again the Eastern Cape has stumbled lazily (in total contrast to performed) to the lowest echelons of the provincial matric pass rates. Against a background of six out of nine provinces improving their matric pass rates the Eastern Cape joins KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape in the Dunce Class of 2011. The nine provinces fared as follows: Eastern Cape: 58.1% - the lowest pass rate and down from 58.3% in 2010 KwaZulu-Natal: 68.1% - down from 70.7% in 2010 Northern Cape: … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape Matrics – Welcome to the DUNCE Class of 2011
Uncooperative Education Officials Frustrating Special Investigating Unit
The mandate of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) currently investigating corruption in the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape should be strengthened in order to summons any official, any time, to provide them with the necessary information and relevant documentation. The unit needs clout to do its job. The department has no fraud prevention plan in place and the Risk Management Unit is almost non-existent. This needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency if the looting is to … [Read more...] about Uncooperative Education Officials Frustrating Special Investigating Unit
New Centre for the Community School
The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's Faculty of Education is responding to the challenges of education by establishing a Centre for the Community School - a first of its kind in the country - to be located within the faculty. The launch of the Centre takes place on Friday, 26 August, at 16:00 at the university's Missionvale Campus. The keynote speaker is foremost scholar and expert on education and inequality in America, Prof Pedro Noguera. His research focuses on ways in which … [Read more...] about New Centre for the Community School
