A three–day- visit to some of the Eastern Cape schools as part of the department’s ‘back to school campaign’ has also helped to rally the citizens and communities around provincial education since it (education) is a societal matter.  

The recently poor performance by the provincial matriculants also served as a wake-up call to many detached communities, who saw education and instilling discipline to learners as the sole responsibility of teachers.  These visits, although they started on the first day of the school calendar, got the momentum on the 11th of this month (January) when the Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe graced the community of Lutshaya, a rural village in the outskirts of Lusikisiki district joining dispatched teams across the province.

Visiting government officials and politicians came with single voice of ‘working together we can do more’ to an education that needed a bold and unifying human face since the past year was marked with tussles and bickering between the department and its social partners.  These visitors took lead and together gave new hope for the future to the battered spirits and egos.

As all participants agreed that only education can assist these rural pupils to enjoy equal rights like their counterparts in other parts of the country, and they were encouraged to do more too.  The arranged session endowed human dignity and responsible citizenship amongst these youngsters. 

Despite the poor performance by the province, the prominent issues that also dominated the meeting of the stakeholders include the department’s support inside the classroom, call for construction of access roads to schools, need for school sanitation facilities, fencing and a dire need for portable water in the area and schools.

Addressing the throng of community members, the Eastern Cape Education department MEC, Mandla Makupula assured the citizens that a special intervention which will consist of teacher support and learner development programmes is underway.  He also assured that the department has prioritised school functionality

Support programmes

The department has vowed to support teachers through employing subject advisors and education development officers commonly known as EDOs.  These subject advisors will make sure that the level of curriculum delivery to school is enhanced.  Additionally, the programme will also see teachers undergoing content and curricular training.  The EDOs will monitor the process to ensure that the schools receive what is due to them.

Makupula also highlighted that the department is considering starting other support programme during the first quarter of the academic year with subject specialists who will also be roped into ensuring best practices, adhered to during these sessions.

He also urged all parents and education stakeholders to support these support programmes as they seek to improve the district performance.  "It is our firm belief that education is a societal matter, hence we urge all district based education stakeholders to work together with us in turning around this district", said education MEC, Mandla Makupula.

District visiting team

Since the national and provincial government dispatched multi-disciplined teams in all its 23 districts provincially to ensure that they ensure the smooth process during this period.  These multi-disciplined teams will also ensure that the core business of the department, which is teaching and learning are not compromised.  Other issues that have been target by the teams is to ensure that teaching takes place on the first day of schooling.

Thus far all the visiting teams have registered smooth learner enrolment and general registration; that teaching and learning material has been adequately delivered and that the school staffing is being sorted out by the districts and the department.