Our Leadership
The political and administrative leadership shaping education in the Eastern Cape.
About the MEC
Fundile Gade serves as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE), having first assumed office in May 2019 and currently serving a second consecutive term under Premier Oscar Mabuyane. A former educator, seasoned public servant, and long-standing Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, MEC Gade has become widely recognised for his commitment to transforming education across the province through collaborative leadership, infrastructure development, curriculum support, digital innovation, and stakeholder partnerships.
Under his stewardship, the Eastern Cape has recorded significant improvements in National Senior Certificate performance, with the provincial matric pass rate improving from 65% in 2017 to above 81% by 2023, alongside the introduction of the MEC Excellence Awards programme aimed at recognising academic achievement, innovation, and school excellence across all districts.
Guided by his well-known principle that "Education is a societal matter," MEC Gade has consistently championed the active involvement of communities, parents, organised labour, traditional leaders, businesses, NGOs, institutions of higher learning, and civil society in shaping the future of education in the Eastern Cape. His leadership has further prioritised school infrastructure revitalisation, eradication of unsafe pit toilets, ICT integration, learner support programmes, school safety, educator development, indigenous language advancement, technical and vocational education pathways, and expanded digital learning opportunities for rural and underserved communities.
MEC Gade continues to advocate for a holistic and inclusive education system that develops learners academically, socially, culturally, and through sport and extracurricular excellence. His administration remains aligned with the National Development Plan 2030 and the Eastern Cape Vision 2030, with a strategic focus on building a modern, resilient, and future-ready education system capable of empowering every learner in the province.
About the Head of Department
Ms Sharon Ann Maasdorp was born in Gqeberha, where she attended Soutpan Primary and Arcadia High School, serving as Head Girl and contributing to initiatives in dance, modelling, and drama. She completed her tertiary education at the University of the Western Cape, where she was actively involved in student leadership and anti-apartheid activism.
After qualifying as a teacher, she began her career at Paterson High School as a guidance counsellor. She played a key role in advancing teacher representation through union structures, contributing to the formation of SADTU and advocating for gender pay equality.
Ms Maasdorp holds a Master's degree in Conflict Management and Labour Law, along with qualifications in education, arts, and human resource management. She has over 20 years of senior management experience in the public sector, with expertise in strategic leadership, programme management, and public administration. Her career highlights include establishing career development initiatives in underserved communities, leading provincial HIV and AIDS programmes, and representing South Africa in international forums across Sweden, Kenya, Uganda, and Canada. She was instrumental in launching impactful programmes such as Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) and the Integrated School Health Programme. Most recently, she has led innovative education initiatives, including the establishment of the province's first e-learning centre and a pioneering air school programme.
Ms Maasdorp remains deeply committed to social development, education transformation, and collaborative leadership.
The ECDoE Organogram
The organisational structure of the Eastern Cape Department of Education.
