Media Statement by Minister Motshekga on the state of ECDoE (03 March 2011); Eastern Cape Department of Education

Media Statement by Minister Motshekga on the state of ECDoE

Posted on Thursday, 03 March 2011
Article by Panyaza Lesufi

Programme Director
Deputy Minister Enver Surty
Premier Noxolo Kiviet
MEC Mandla Makupula
Director General Bobby Soobrayan
Superintendent General Modidima Mannya

Ladies & Gentlemen

Following consultations with the Premier of Eastern Cape, Noxolo Kiviet, the MEC for Education, Mandla Makupula, as well as the ruling party, coupled with our visit to the Eastern Cape on the 27th January 2011, all parties concur that an intervention is required to remediate the situation faced by the Eastern Cape Department of Education.

During our visit here last month, we received reports on the termination of temporary educators' contracts, suspension of scholar transport, non-delivery of textbooks and stationery as well as the poor implementation of the school nutrition programme. We agreed that a resolution of the problems in these areas be fast-tracked to ensure that learners and educators are not disadvantaged. Following our meeting with the Premier this morning, we noted the progress to improve service delivery in these critical areas. Our aim is to ensure that this progress is further accelerated through our intervention.

In his reply to the State of the Nation Address debate, President Jacob Zuma committed to giving serious consideration in providing sustainable intervention to the education challenges in the Eastern Cape. In has become clear that the conditions in education in the province amount to a serious challenge in terms of compliance with national policy, minimum norms and standards for education service delivery, the obligations arising from the constitution, the National Education Policy, 1996 (Act No 27 of 1996); the South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No.84 of 1996) and relevant regulations formulated in terms of these statutes. In view of the seriousness of these challenges I am obliged, in terms of my statutory obligations as the Minister of Basic Education, to take the steps required to ensure a sustainable turnaround of basic education in the province.

We are pleased to state that we have since consulted with affected parties within the province as well as Cabinet on this matter. We agreed that a sustainable intervention is now inevitable. This sustainable intervention shall be based on the spirit of cooperative governance.

In its meeting on Wednesday, 2nd March 2011, Cabinet directed that the Ministry embarks on an intervention to address the challenges in education service delivery in the Eastern Cape Province. Cabinet directed that Section 100 of the constitution be used in order to provide the required constitutional and legal authority for this intervention. Cabinet was of the view that this intervention, which is made in the spirit of cooperative governance, will pave the way for an immediate resolution to all pressing problems in education service delivery in the province.

It is within this context that we have arrived at the following decisions:

The province remains the key pillar of service provision and the intervention is not intended to displace this sphere of government.
The intervention shall be for the benefit of the people of this province
The exercise of intervening will be a collaborative approach and would provide support and direction to the provincial governance structures.
The legal basis of our intervention shall occur through Section 100 (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

We remain convinced that our intervention must result in the creation of long-term capacity in the department and a sustainable turnaround of education service delivery in the province. This should include the creation of positive and sustainable changes at a systemic level to achieve efficiency and stability in the Provincial Department of Education.

We are hopeful that these decisions now pave the way for an immediate resolution to all pressing matters. We will shortly announce the composition of a team that will work with the provincial leadership to pave the path for quality education through this intervention.

The Ministry, the Premier and the MEC shall oversee and monitor progress in terms of this intervention.

Issued by: Ms. Angie Motshekga, MP, Minister of Basic Education in concurrence with Ms. Noxolo Kiviet, Premier of the Eastern Cape Province

For more information kindly contact Panyaza Lesufi at 083 383 4517

Article Tags: intervention, temporary educators' contracts, suspension, scholar transport, non-delovery of textbooks, stationery

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Posted by zozi - 02:48 on 05 March 2011

This is still not telling us anything. We are on a 3rd month with no salaries. What will happen to us and our families, most of them all the learners? The president said on his speech, the teacher must be on time and in class teaching, who is that teacher when teachers are terminated? He speaks about how important the education is everyday but still does nothing abt the situation. And then I can start asking myselsf abt the fact that is it bcos this is not happening in KZN bcos if it was KZN I knw for sure he would have bn there himself to address the situation. What does he think this is doing to Madiba for the nation he suffered for? Come on Motshekga, u made a speech in Jan already abt the situation but up until today there is no action plan excpet telling us abt some intervention that we do not c. Do something otherwise we will all move to other provinces where they will employ us...as for Manya, the budget came out but he still says there is no money, mfxm he is as good as not being there shame.

Posted by Nyodo - 10:16 on 04 March 2011

Again there is no sense of urgency as shown by the lack of time frames. I read from somewhere, where the minister is saying some of the temporary teachers whose contracts where terminated where not qualified. According to the circular that was sent out to district offices those not qualified where protected and they are in schools, its those qualified whose contracts where terminated.If no action is taken right away then the department can kiss good-bye to improved grades in mathematics and physical sciences which are the most hard hit and other subjects. What pains most is that its those learners who have under served who are on the receiving end of this mess. Where the big guns send their learners for schooling there are enough teachers and the taecher student ratio is good. Please help the disadvantaged learners of the eastern cape.

Posted by Dizza - 16:35 on 03 March 2011

It is saddening to find out that there is nothing specific, with a time frame, that is clearly stated in the minister's statement, that speaks to us the concerned and affected parents and learners, about the strategies that will be employed in solving the problem we are faced with. Everywhere they talk of an interventions but when will that start, what type of intervention will it be, how long will be the process? It's as if the minister just responded because of the mounting pressure on her, but had nothing specific to say exactly. Or is it fear of stepping on comrades' toes? Please may a clear course of action be communicated to the concerned public. The public is not familiar with any section of the South African constitution, so if one just make mention of a particular section of the constitution without even a quote thereof, that person is only talking to lawyers and magistrates and not the general puplic.