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28 Jul 2009

Amendments to legislation and policy governing school organisation and funding

The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) convened today in Pretoria for a special workshop on possible changes to the policy and legislation related to the organisation, governance and funding of schools.

Council deliberated on substantive items in the draft policy including the following:
* the establishment of focus schools, including technical schools, schools of the arts and others
* provisions for the recognition and funding of school governing bodies;
* provisions to allow an MEC to declare additional schools as no-fee schools, over and above those declared by the minister
* mechanisms related to the proposed capping of school fees, and for compensation for fee exemptions and
* provisions to ensure all schools are able to receive and use their allocations in an effective manner.

Council was also briefed on some previous decisions related to school funding, including:
* a guaranteed minimum allocation for small schools and
* the payment of performance awards to schools.

Any changes agreed to by the Council of Education Ministers will be gazetted for public comment prior to implementation.

Transfer of further education and training (FET) colleges to a national function

Dr DB Nzimande, the minister of Higher Education and Training, joined CEM for a discussion on the management of the transition of Further Education and Training (FET) colleges from the provinces to the Department of Higher Education and Training, as per Proclamation 48 of 2009 of 8 July 2009. Council agreed that due process will be followed to ensure a smooth transfer of the colleges.

President's meeting with school principals

Minister Motshekga briefed CEM on the preparations for the meeting of President Zuma on 7 August 2009 with 1 500 school principals from across the country. This meeting is part of the commitment of the president in his state of the nation address to meet with school principals to discuss government's approach to turn all our schools into thriving centres of excellence.

President Zuma will address principals on the importance of the non-negotiable in education-that teachers must be in school, in class, on time and teaching, with no neglect of duty or the abuse of learners. President Zuma will also be listening to the concerns of principals to ensure that all school heads become strategic partners in providing quality education to all our children.

This event will be hosted as follows:
Venue: Durban International Convention Centre
Date: Friday, 7 August 2009
Time: 10h00 - 13h00

The event will be open to all media.

Enquiries:
Granville Whittle
Cell: 072 148 9575

Issued by: Department of Basic Education
28 July 2009
Source: Department of Education (http://www.education.gov.za/)

Issued by: Department of Basic Education
28 Jul 2009

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