yusuf cassim

Dear MyPE The dismal performance of the Eastern Cape matriculants should in no way rest on their shoulders, but rather on those of the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE), which has consistently placed greed and self-interest above the needs of its learners. This year the Eastern Cape’s results dropped from 76,5% to 68,1%. The Democratic Alliance commends all learners who, despite one of the most difficult academic years on record, have overcome these obstacles and excelled in … [Read more...] about Education Department kills future of EC Matriculants

Dear MyPE Even with three extra weeks due to lockdown measures, the Eastern Cape Department of Education has not been able to prepare schools for the opening of the 2021 academic year. Based on a school readiness report presented to the Education Portfolio Committee yesterday afternoon [Thursday, 11 February 2021], only 63% of schools have received their textbooks and grade reader deliveries, with around 20% of schools still awaiting the delivery of their workbooks. The report … [Read more...] about Education Department desperately ill prepared for opening of schools

Dear MyPE With less than three days to go before the opening of schools for the 2021 academic year, school staff and teachers have been unable to update any information for the year, because the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape has still not released the latest patch for the South African School Administration Management System (SA-SAMS). Not only does this platform allow schools to update information of learners, it is also utilised to assign learners to subject areas, … [Read more...] about Software rollout delay cripples new academic year before it begins

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Education must, with all haste, put together plans for the launch of a no-fee, public online school, and provide feedback to the provincial portfolio committee on Education within 30 days. This was the decision of the members of Eastern Cape Legislature during a plenary sitting yesterday, passing a motion without notice, brought by the Democratic Alliance. A capable state is one which embraces innovation and forward-thinking. No-fee public online … [Read more...] about Legislature approves no-fee, online public schooling in EC

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape will be seeking clarity around the implementation of the Basic Education Employment Initiative programme by the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education. This national programme seeks to provide temporary employment to 319 061 people across the country to help teachers with curriculum coverage and learner homework assistance as well as upkeep of the school premises and infrastructure maintenance. Almost R5 billion has been … [Read more...] about DA EC requests feedback on Basic Education Employment Initiative

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) extends our sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Eastern Cape Department of Education Superintendent General, Mr Themba Kojana, following his tragic passing this morning. Mr Kojana made a contribution to education in the province and was always willing to subject himself to the democratic process. He will leave a vacuum at the top at a very critical time for education in the Eastern Cape. He was never obstructive and … [Read more...] about RIP Themba Kojana

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Education has wasted R1,7million on an application, named Sikuncede Njani, that is outdated and therefore serves no real purpose. In response to a parliamentary question from the DA, MEC of Education, Fundile Gade, said the app is currently up to date with relevant information that can be utilised by the public and officials of the Department. This is not true. After phoning no less than 30 numbers of schools and officials, as listed on the app, … [Read more...] about Department of Education wastes R1,7million on out of date app

Dear MyPE I am extremely excited for the learners of Patensie, who have finally been able to take occupation of their new school building, which was built for them over a year ago, but which had been standing vacant because of delays by the Education Department. The building of the school was part of the national Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) programme which aimed to eradicate schools built with inappropriate and unsafe materials. The delays in handing … [Read more...] about Patensie school finally opens

Dear MyPE Hundreds of young learners from Laerskool Grens in Arcadia, Buffalo City are being crammed into overcrowded classrooms, because work on the new school they were promised four years ago has ground to a halt. This situation has been further exacerbated as the Department has annexed half of the current school grounds for the Buffalo City Inner City School, which is now also operating off the same premises. Effectively, due to the bureaucratic bungling of an inept Education … [Read more...] about BCM learners share cramped school ground as project stalls

Dear MyPE The residents of Mandela Village in KwaZakhele, Port Elizabeth have not only lost all their earthly belongings after their shacks were razed to the ground, but now also fear for their lives in temporary shanty death traps. In September of this year close to 80 people were left without roofs over their heads after a fire gutted Mandela Village. In response to this disaster the Eastern Cape Provincial Government forked out more than R1,6 million to provide temporary housing for … [Read more...] about Fire-ravaged Mandela Village community housed in death traps

Dear MyPE The Department of Health must step up and assist schools where matriculants have started writing examinations, to help providing isolation areas and invigilation for learners to write exams who might be carrying the virus. The Democratic Alliance has noted that, despite matric exams starting today, the Health Department is nowhere to be seen, even though they were mandated to provide the necessary assistance. Not only are learners scared of catching the virus, but they are … [Read more...] about Health Department must step up to assist Matrics writing exams

Dear MyPE A brand-new school that was built by the Department of Education in Patensie, has been standing empty for over a year, while learners who are meant to benefit from it are still forced to attend schools with woefully inadequate infrastructure. The building of the school was part of the national Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) programme which aimed to eradicate schools built with inappropriate and unsafe materials. A programme that continues to fail … [Read more...] about Brand-new Patensie school vacant for over a year

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Education refuses to admit its mistakes and self-correct with respect to the irregular E-learning procurement contract entered into with Sizwe Africa IT Group, despite a court interdict pending a full review. This became clear during a sitting of the portfolio committee on Education, requested by the Democratic Alliance, which met on Thursday to consider the implications of the interdict and pending review. The DA has consistently contended that … [Read more...] about Education Department digs in heels over e-learning contract, at taxpayers’ expense

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance is extremely pleased that the Wastewater Treatment Works in the Amahlathi Local Municipality has been repaired, and that the electricity grid to the plant has been upgraded, following our calls for intervention. Since December 2019, the wastewater treatment plant had no electricity. In February this year, a generator was installed by the Amatole District Municipality, which was only capable of providing electricity to treat less than half of the raw … [Read more...] about Intervention secures much-needed repairs to Stutterheim Wastewater Treatment Works

Dear MyPE The interdict by Judge Buyiswa Majiki, to immediately stop the implementation of the controversial R538 million contract, between the Sizwe Africa IT Group, MTN and the Department, has serious implications for learners across the province. The Democratic Alliance has repeated raised its concerns regarding this contract, in various Legislature forums, since it was first tabled in the portfolio committee. The DA wants to build an education system in the Eastern Cape that works, … [Read more...] about Education portfolio committee must discuss interdict implications