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18 May 2006

Madam Speaker,
Honourable Deputy Speaker,
Honourable Premier,
Members of the Provincial Legislature,
Representatives from civil society,
Non-governmental organisations,
The House of Traditional Leaders,
Esteemed guests, parents and educators,
Members of educator organisations,
Officials of the Department of Education
Special guests from schools,
Media representatives,
Ladies and gentlemen:

Introduction

“There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads on to fortune,” so said Shakespeare. This is the time for all men of conscience to help shake off the discrimination, poverty, prejudice, corruption and deprivation that have become the hallmark of the masses of our people.

Madam Speaker, it is my conviction that for our budgets to become meaningful to those whose fate we come here to determine we must replace the vicious circle of corruption with a virtuous circle of accountability.

And to realise this, probably, we need to change ourselves and by example we might effect a change in the community at large.

The future, Madam Speaker, according to John Schaar is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present but a place that is created first in mind next in will then in activity. The future, he contends, is not some place we are going to but a place we are creating. The paths are not to be discovered but made and the activity of making the future changes both the maker and the destination.

Madam Speaker, it is with this reasoning that I present the 2006/2007 departmental budget hoping that each Rand that we receive, as a Department, will be “sowed “in a manner that will have a ripple effect especially on our learners. And as we do this we will be creating the future for the next generation.

Programme one: Administration (R424, 924 million)

Madam Speaker, The North West Education Department is increasingly gaining a hold over its financial management. We are increasingly spending more effectively and efficiently. We are indeed part and parcel of what the honourable Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, calls our country’s entry into the “Age of Hope.” In her State of the Province address, our Premier, the honourable Edna Molewa echoed this as the “season of hope.” We are extremely privileged to be called upon to deliver during this age and in particular within the spirit of the Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA).

During the past financial year, as I promised, an Internal Audit Directorate that is currently 75 percent staffed has been established. To assist this directorate an audit committee has also been established.

The Departmental Procurement Committee (DPC) has been established and held 11 meetings over the period ending in December 2005. As our contribution to the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) policy, the Department has adopted as standing procedure, the linking of small and medium contractors to establish companies not exceeding the ratio 70/30.This is intended to improve the risk profile of the small contractors.

The disruptions at the warehouse and the investigations that occurred towards the end of the 2004/5 financial year derailed our preparations for the annual audit. This resulted in the Department not being able to respond adequately to issues raised by the Auditor-General which led to an unfortunate disclaimer.

Clear action is now being taken as the Department prepares for the 2006 audit. Each manager is reporting monthly on challenges experienced which enables all the members of the department to advise in this regard. The Potchefstroom Warehouse has been reconfigured and this new model will be duplicated to all the regions to take effect on 1 April 2007. This year, 2006/7, will see the refinement of the model and preparations for the intended expansion.

The honourable President Thabo Mbeki promised that one of the interventions that government will do this year is “eliminating fees for the poorest quintile of primary schools.” Responding to this imperative, in our province, all schools in quintiles one and two have been declared “no fee” schools. Each of them will receive a minimum of R527 per learner for the year as part of implementing the Adequacy Funding Policy.

Human resource management

Madam Speaker, the Department successfully balanced the demand and supply of educators in schools. Through the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) consultation process with employee organisations, it was agreed that the Department could afford 29 297 educator posts. This is an increase of 552 posts. These posts were distributed to 2 166 learning institutions whilst in the previous financial year, educator posts were distributed to 2 178 learning institutions. The Department will finalise human resource (HR) plans for each of the 2 166 schools. This will eliminate the over-supply of teachers. The remaining vacancies will then be advertised. During 2005, the Department released three open vacancy lists advertising 299 promotional posts for educators and 1 185 educator posts with the date of assumption of duty, 1 January 2006.

Two thousand and fifty six employees have been matched, placed and redeployed which include the absorption and translation of unqualified teacher posts to those of administrative assistants. There are 2 127 vacancies for which an additional amount of R118 million is required. Madam Speaker, I have also given directives that all temporary educators be absorbed and made permanent.

The regionalisation of the human resource and finance functions is completed and the head office will continue to monitor services in the regions. Over R10 million was made available for this activity across all regions. This budget was completely exhausted.

Through the Employee Wellness Programme (EWP) I have approved the following policies; occupational health and safety, HIV/AIDS in the workplace and the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). I also approved the creation of 42 counsellors posts. During this financial year R600, 000 has been allocated for a service provider which will strengthen the Departmental HIV/AIDS in the workplace programme.

Madame Speaker, in his 2006 State of the Nation address, President Thabo Mbeki, again emphasised “a vigorous and wide-ranging skills development programme.” The Department as we delivered last year and plan to deliver this year is whole-heartedly dedicated to this endeavour. We fully recognise the critical role that we play in the realisation of AsgiSA.

The budget allocated for human resource development was R35, 656 million. With these funds the Department audited the skills of all employees and developed the departmental workplace skills plan which we submitted to the Education, Training and Development Practitioners (ETDP) Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA). With the support of the office of the Premier and Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority (PSETA), this directorate implemented three learnerships which involved 237 youth members.

One thousand one hundred and thirty two educators’ qualifications were upgraded through the National Professional Diploma in Education (NPDE). This was done through the North West University and the University of South Africa (Unisa) at a cost of R15 million. Thirteen thousand five hundred and four educators will commence with the Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) in curriculum and professional development at 135 centres across the province at R10 million. This is managed and facilitated by the North West University. Three hundred and sixty subject advisors were trained in mentoring and coaching by Unisa. Two thousand four hundred principals will be trained as mentors and coaches by Unisa.

Madam Speaker, for employee development, R38, 099 million is allocated and as part of responding to the call of the Premier in her State of the Province address an additional R8, 317 million is allocated for skills development.

Departmental communication

During the previous financial year, the Department created the Directorate: Communications attached to the office of the MEC. Concrete delivery occurred within the following areas, advertising the MECs activities were done through the print and audio media. These included launches, official openings of schools and media briefings.

The key deliverables envisioned for 2006/07 will be the establishment of a sound corporate identity that will assist in building the “Team Education.” It will also align all exhibitions and themes to the government’s theme for 2006/07 of an “Age of Hope.” A “Turn Around” communication strategy will be implemented that will focus on the Department’s external audiences. Here, the Development Communication Ethos (DCE) will be implemented so that all activities within the Department are communicated effectively. This will encourage a mutually beneficial relationship and create a platform of “hope in education” for the future of all the people involved in education.

Legal advisory services

The Legal Advisory Services Directorate was allocated a budget of R10, 363 million for the 2005/06 fiscal year. The Department has been successful in expending the allocated budget on administration, litigation and other goods and services. In the 2006/07 budget year every effort will be made to provide excellent legal advice to the Department. An allocation of R9, 851 million for the financial year 2006/07 is made for legal services.

Internal security

Madam Speaker, since the last financial year and as promised in the previous budget speech the Department has established the Directorate: Minimum Internal Security Services (MISS) with minimal staffing at this stage. During 2005/06 internal security services received R1 million to deliver their brief. After a re-adjustment of the budget in September 2006, devices that secure the information of our Senior Management Team (SMT) meetings were acquired. We are able to record all proceedings at such meetings.

During 2006/07, MISS will be expanded into all regions. Plans for the full staffing of regional sections are well underway. For 2006/07, R6, 601 million is allocated to security services. This includes salaries. During the coming financial year MISS will deliver mainly on its core business which is physical, document, information and Information Technology (IT) security.

Programme two: Public ordinary schools education (R5, 322, 468 million)

Curriculum change in our schooling system is well on track. Since 1998, Outcomes Based Education (OBE) has been successfully implemented in the GET band. Common Tasks for Assessment (CTA) with minor changes will once again be used this year. For Further Education and Training (FET), subject assessment guidelines have been distributed to all schools.

The National Curriculum Statement (NCS), grades R to six was implemented in 2005 at a cost of R2, 891 million. This year the NCS is being implemented in grades seven and 10 and in this regard all the relevant schools have been fully supplied with textbooks. During 2006, we will prepare for the implementation of the NCS in grades eight, nine, 11 and 12. Grades eight, nine and 11 will implement the NCS in 2007 while grade 12 will be implemented in 2008. The year 2008 will also be the first year that the Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC) will be awarded.

Madam Speaker, R25 million is allocated towards training for the implementation of the NCS. Last year, 6500 teachers were trained spending R1, 5 million.

Learner attainment implementation plan

During the 2005 academic year, the North West Education Department implemented its matric improvement implementation plan containing critical events and processes that facilitated an effective intervention to improve the provincial matric results.

The matric intervention strategy was driven and intensely monitored by all senior managers. Professional Support Forums (PSFs) were established at all levels with regional curriculum support officials and teachers as members. These structures focused on improved strategies for teaching and learning. At Senior Management Team (SMT) meetings, in particular, I took personal interest in the intensive monitoring of the implementation of the intervention and my senior managers and I made visits to trapped schools. Trapped schools were also given additional resources.

During 2006, the Department will implement the Learner Attainment Implementation Plan (LAIP). An amount of R9 million has been allocated for this project. This year there will be a special focus on languages because according to analyses made a disjuncture in language offering between the GET and FET bands was the main reason why our matric results dropped during 2005.

Institutional development

Twelve new ordinary public schools were registered during the 2005/06 financial year. The Department is critically aware of the very severe conditions that learners endure at farm and rural schools. Learners walk long distances to school, sometimes under very bad weather conditions (rain, scorching heat and extreme cold). Their small farm schools are not conducive to quality education.

To respond to these challenges, the Department started a process of the consolidation of schools through mergers to make them more viable as institutions of learning. As the honourable Premier indicated the North West Education Department had already embarked upon the following major mergers: Onkgopotse Tiro and Moedwil. Boon in Bojanala West are being considered for a mega farm school.

These mergers are attempts to provide learners with the same curriculum, infrastructural provisioning and staffing, as is the case for learners in urban schools. In Bojanala East, Marian Middle School was also merged with Tsogo High School. During this financial year, 2006/7, R5 million has been allocated to the southern region for the creation of a mega school by merging several farm schools.

The Department resuscitated the system of contracts with farmers upon whose land public schools are situated. More than 60 contracts have been signed with farmers for which R720, 000 was made available. On 24 February 2006, I personally addressed the farmers at a meeting in Lichtenberg. The farmers were very positive and co-operative and we agreed to have an improved relationship henceforth. Madam Speaker, this year I allocate R15 million for the development of farm and rural education.

School enrichment (sport, arts and culture) with the allocated R 12, 8 million of 2005/06, we promoted mass participation in various sporting and cultural events. The Department delivered on the choral music, cultural performances, farm school sport, athletics, rural sport, football, netball, cross country, girls’ cricket, Transnet farm and rural sport and the transformation of school sport. The Department has created one sports post in each of the 21 area project offices.

At the 2005 National Girls’ Games hosted by Gauteng Province at the University of Witwatersrand on 5 to 8 August 2005, the North West Province collected six medals; two gold in football and netball, three silver in basketball, softball and volleyball whilst chess from Schoonspruit High School received the bronze.

In 2005 at the National Indigenous Music, Dance and Games Festival hosted by Mpumalanga in Witbank, the provincial cultural group Pampierstadt High School was awarded the trophy for overall performance, behaviour in and out of the field, discipline, team work, cleanliness and attire. The North West team once more continued the domination of the girls 16 and over netball which they have won six times since 1998.

In 2005, Potchefstroom Girls High obtained 71 percent for the fourth position in female choral performance. This year in partnership with Motsweding FM the Provincial School Choral Eisteddfod will be hosted by our central region in Mafikeng.

For 2005/06, Onkgopotse-Tiro Comprehensive School received equipment for chess, athletics, indigenous games, volleyball, netball, basketball as well as playing attire. It is the intention of the Department to provide farm learners with the same facilities as their counterparts in the urban areas. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture for their contribution towards the successful implementation of this project. During the new financial year, the Department will do the same for Moedwil School in Bojanala West. The provincial girls’ cricket project which started last year as a pilot programme is progressing well.

R12, 8 million is allocated to school enrichment programmes for 2006/07

Library services

An amount of R3, 4 million was allocated in 2005/06 for School Library Multimedia Services (SLMS). This amount covered salaries, resourcing of school libraries, capacitating staff working in school libraries including teacher librarians and media advisors, implementing information skills across the curriculum promoting the culture of reading and lifelong learning in the schools.

In the 2006/07 financial year the following will be achieved; resourcing of schools, establishing functional educational and regional libraries, information skills in schools, capacitating more teacher librarians and media advisors and reinforcing a culture of reading. We have R4 million which is allocated for library services. This amount is included in the R12, 85 million that was allocated for school enrichment programmes.

Quality assurance

Madam Speaker, we conducted systemic evaluation research at grade six using a sample of 108 schools. This report was launched and released to the members of the public on 6 February 2006. Of significance in the report is the negative effect of the language of teaching and learning on the achievement of learners. Forty out of the 50 schools were evaluated according to the whole school evaluation programme. School improvement plans were developed based on the findings of these evaluations.

Madam Speaker, this year we will implement the recommendations of the grade six systemic evaluation at a cost of R10 million. In this regard, a comprehensive implementation plan has already been crafted. In June 2006, both the national Department of Education and the province will be conducting systemic evaluation studies at grade three level. All educators have been trained on the Integrated Quality Management Systems (IQMS) and the Performance Management Development Systems (PMDS). IQMS and PMDS receive an allocation of R1, 784 million and EDSCs, R15 million.

The Education Management and Governance Development (EMGD) programme saw the training of school principals, Senior Management Teams (SMT) and educators on strategic planning, finance and classroom management. During May and June 2006, School Governing Body (SGB) elections will be held and facilitated by the Department.

The special intervention for mathematics, science and technology education

Honourable Madam Speaker, our province commits its support to the president’s aspiration of doubling the maths and science graduate output by 2008. Our participation in the national Dinaledi programme is our contribution towards this goal. On 19 November 2005, I launched the expansion of the Dinaledi initiative in the province. I announced the increase of these schools from seven to 50. Forty of these schools will receive funding from the national Department of Education and 10 will be supported provincially.

In transforming these schools into dedicated mathematics and science schools, the Department of Education will provide them with the following resources; science labs, permanent qualified staff, libraries and media centres just to mention a few.

Madam Speaker, the Department is implementing the Girl Learner Intervention Programme (GLIP). Girls throughout the province will be exposed to high level intensive supplementary tuition during 17 Saturdays, study camps during the autumn and winter and spring school holidays. In addition to the supplementary tuition, women role models in the sciences will be called to motivate the girls.

Last year, I announced that we will focus on improving teacher qualifications in this key subject. To achieve this we implemented provincial mathematics and science clinics across the five regions. Over 700 mathematics and science educators were capacitated in this regard.

For the special intervention for mathematics, science and technology, Madam Speaker, I allocate for 2006/07 R14, 893 million. This amount includes a special allocation for science kits of R6 million.

Madam Speaker, I wish to request you and the honourable house to join me as I pay special tribute to two young girl-scientists from this province that were selected to represent South Africa at two international science competitions. They are Roelien Blom and Gweneth Sedupane. Roelien returned to South Africa from Taiwan on 19 February after competing with boys and girls her age at the International Science Fair. Gweneth will fly to Spain in July also to represent South Africa at the European Science Expo.

Primary school nutrition programme

The honourable Premier, Edna Molewa, mentioned our responsibility as regards the National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP). In her State of the Province address, she indicates this programme is important to “ensure that our learners do not have to study on empty stomachs.“ She further indicates that we must focus on the farm school child.

During 2005/06, the NSNP received R79, 357 million and an additional R8, 25 million as a rollover from National Treasury. A further R7, 2 million from the Integrated Nutrition Programme (INP) of the Department of Health was handed to the Department of Education.

From January 2006 the span of the project has been increased to include grade R to grade seven. This increased the number of learners from 380 385 to 471 975. The number of days for feeding was also extended from four to five. Thirty Eight educators who were declared in addition were absorbed into the NSNP. The programme has created employment opportunities for women. Their involvement increased from 3 007 to 4 720. Ten learnerships presently based with NSNP will be contracted by NSNP and paid from the conditional grant at R3, 000, 00 per month. The budget allocated for NSNP for 2006/7 is R95, 529 million.

* In addition to the NSNP, Madam Speaker, we are also managing a project on sustainable food production in schools. Ten schools in Kgalagadi participate in this project. A further 200 schools, 40 per region, were selected to participate in the programme. Out of all of these 180 schools have functional food gardens. Two hundred and ten educators, one per school, were trained on gardening skills and orange fleshed sweet potato production. To support this project the national Department of Education purchased a bakkie, fax machine and a laptop.

School safety

The budget allocation for the project was R1, 8 million in the past financial year. Services of several service providers were outsourced to capacitate regional school safety co-ordinators on safety matters to disseminate the information to school based teams.

Several partnerships made the management of this project possible. Information sharing sessions driven through the inter-departmental provincial and local project management teams assisted through capacitating school safety teams. Compared to last years 55 percent, this year, 80 percent of our schools have functional and trained school safety teams.

An amount of R2, 2 million will be utilised in this financial year to implement drug abuse programmes. It will focus on training of youths, SGBs, Senior Management Teams (SMTs) and the monitoring and support of participants.

Infrastructure

Madam Speaker, the honourable Premier already mentioned most of our past achievements in the delivery of infrastructure during the previous financial year. The Department allocated R255, 471 million for infrastructure. Of this money R43, 663 million was reserved for maintenance. The Department completed 13 new schools and the Department of Public Works undertook the construction of 13 new schools of which four have been completed. The remaining none will be completed between April and September 2006.

The Department of Public Works renovated 34 out of 44 schools for R30, 104 million. Twenty six are at various stages of completion. Delivery will be between April and June 2006. Ninety schools have been provided with new toilets for an amount of R40 million. An amount of R4, 056 million was used to provide 82 schools with boreholes, a stand, a tank and pumps. One hundred and eighteen schools were provided with new fencing at an amount of R13, 617 million. Forty schools were repaired after storm damage. One hundred and forty mobile classrooms and 210 mobile toilets were provided to 44 schools for an amount of R14 million.

During the 2006/7 financial year, 26 schools and 85 toilets will be built. Water will be supplied to 50 schools, renovations will be done at 40 schools and dysfunctional toilets will be repaired at 50 schools. Further, 50 schools will be fenced. Day to day maintenance will continue and funds will be set aside for emergencies. To all of these activities R165, 163 million is made available.

Information technology

During 2005/06, R14 million was allocated for the computerization of 300 schools which included training of 300 principals. The delivery of this project is on track.

Over R13 million is allocated to the computerisation of 150 schools during 2006/07. In this regard, during 2006/7, 800 principals and 1 600 educators will be trained on Information and Communications Technology (ICT). We will further install school administration and management systems in 1 000 schools and train two educators from each of the schools. R24, 8 million from the national Department of Education is available for the EMIS improvement programme.

Programme three: Independent school and home education (R6, 5 million)

An allocation of R6 million was budgeted to provide subsidies to 18 schools during the financial year 2005/2006. This entire budget was spent for the planned purpose. One hundred percent of this allocation has been transferred. During 2006/07, this amount will be increased to R6, 5 million. This year the Department will regulate independent and home education. The regulations for home schools will soon be published for public comment.

Programme four: Public special schools education (R120, 077 million)

Honourable Madam Speaker, special schools and inclusive education received an allocation of R89, 626 million in 2005. This money was intended for the establishment of a sound conceptual and operational framework on inclusive education. It was therefore meant to provincialise national policy on inclusive education, promote access to education for learners with disabilities, provide for children in conflict with the law, provide an FET resource centre for the sensory disabled, establish a school for blind learners and upgrade and extend special schools.

In the 2006/07 financial year, special schools receive an allocation of R120, 077 million on the running and maintenance of special schools.

Programme five: Further Education and Training (FET) colleges (R106, 403 million)

Madam Speaker, President Mbeki, in his State of the Nation address referred to the re-equipping and financing of the FET colleges. My Department is already deeply involved in delivering this programme called the recapitalisation of FET. With an allocation of R74, 005 million in the 2005/06 budget, the Department initiated and supported preparations for the recapitalisation of the FET sector. Strategic plans were developed and aligned to the plans for recapitalisation.

The FET college programme is critical to accelerated growth. During 2006/07, FET colleges will receive significant new investment in teaching and learning resources. These colleges have a strong potential to allow our province to develop a skilled profile that will support economic growth and social development.

The FET sector participated actively in the implementation of the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS). Taletso College in conjunction with the Department of Public Works has been involved in the Modimola Agricultural Project. Other community programmes include the Umsobomvu Agricultural Training Programme, Adult Based Education and Training (ABET) expansion and the anticipated graduate development programme also led by Umsobomvu.

The spending of the allocated R106, 403 million in the FET sector during 2006/07 includes the salaries of staff and learner support which includes bursaries. This money will also go towards the filling of critical posts in the colleges.

The Danida programme sponsored by the Danish Embassy is still being implemented in our province. Last year R7 million was spent on its Strategic Education Support and Development (SESD) programme. During 2006/7 the Embassy plans to further spend R7 million on this programme. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Danish Embassy and in particular to Dr Modise Manota who is the Provincial Technical Advisor (PTA) driving this project.

Programme six: Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) (R95, 537)

Madam Speaker, honourable members, the Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) expansion plan that was implemented during the 2005/06 financial year increased the number of ABET centres to 239 by January 2006. Two hundred and twenty five belong to the Department of Education and 14 to other government departments. The enrolment at these centres also increased.

Two hundred and nine literacy units have been opened throughout the province. Unemployed youth with senior certificates are employed to teach in each of the literacy units. They receive a stipend of R1, 000 per month. Training sessions were conducted for the facilitators to enable them to deal with adult learners.

With regards to the introduction of skills programmes FET colleges were used as service providers offering bricklaying, plastering, plumbing and carpentry. These programmes are still running. They will be submitted to the SETA for accreditation.

The total amount allocated for 2006/07 for the programme is R95, 537 million of which R35 million is an additional and earmarked for the ABET expansion project.

Programme seven: Early Childhood Development (ECD) (R152, 510 million)

During 2005/06, R126 million was allocated to Early Childhood Development (ECD). Approximately 1 600 educators who are teaching grade R at 452 registered centres were being paid a salary on persal that amounted to R121 million. Subsidies were allocated to 340 practitioners at community based centres who were teaching grade R learners. In this regard, a total amount of R4, 08 million was allocated to pay practitioners a subsidy of R1, 000 per month.

Under contract by the national Department of Education, the Siseko-Motheo consortium trained 360 ECD practitioners. Three hundred and thirteen practitioners completed the training and received certificates at regional ceremonies.

In her State of the Province address, the honourable Edna Molewa referred to the comprehensive plan that we have developed to integrate the ECD into the public school programme. This is the plan that the departments of education, social development and health have developed jointly for the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) to provide learning opportunities to 0 - four year olds. This year, ECD receives R152, 51 million which includes R130, 128 million for salaries and R17, 901 million for the incorporation of grade R into public schools and the recapitalisation of the pre-grade R section. Part of this allocation will be used to contribute to the Premier’s project of Modimong Village in Greater Taung.

Programme eight: Auxiliary and associated services (R76, 967 million)
HIV/AIDS

Madam Speaker, as per the budget speech of the national Minister for Finance, Minister Trevor Manual “the HIV/AIDS (life skills) programme grant provides care and support to children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. In addition, the grant is spent on the provision of life skills training, sexuality and HIV/AIDS education in primary and high schools.” This programme for 2005/06 was funded by a conditional grant of R13, 256 million.

The 2006/07 conditional grant for the life skills HIV/AIDS schools programme will have a budget of R11, 071 million and will be utilised to roll out the same activities to the rest of the schools that were not served during 2005/6.

Examinations, assessment, certification and accreditation

Madam Speaker, our matric pass rate dropped from 64,9 percent in 2004 to 63 percent in 2005. Our province enrolled 37 726 full time candidates at 409 examination centres. Despite the drop in the provincial 2005 matric pass rate, it must be noted that the class of 2005 was the first group of candidates that participated in the Outcomes Based Education (OBE) curriculum up to grade nine and was forced back to report 550 (the old curriculum) in grades 10 to 12. This cohort changed between two different assessment systems but still managed to maintain reasonably constant results.

Although we were able to break the psychological barrier of 70 percent in 2003, we were not able to sustain the results and thus for 2005 the province stood at 63 percent. This represents a drop of 1, 9 percent from the results of 2004. However, in most cases the pass rate in the higher grade (HG) subjects increased while it decreased in the standard grade (SG). This suggests a quality improvement in the results.

However, I have noted with serious concern that there is still a mammoth task ahead to improve the 2006 matric results. This is particularly critical as we usher in the new National Senior Certificate (NSC) in 2008. A plethora of factors contributed to the 2005 drop and my Department has started to put systems in place to address this uneasy state of affairs.

Honourable members, the North West Department of Education has again been hailed by Umalusi and the national Department of Education as one of the best departments with regard to their conduct and administration of examinations in general. The reports captured that there were no problems in terms of examinations conducted in both the public and independent schools examinations.

The Department managed internally and externally the General Education and Training Certificate (GETC), ABET level four, grade nine and grade 12 examinations with a budget of R47 million which was allocated for 2005. The MTEF allocation of R54 million was committed, but only R52 million was used. The 2006/07 budget for examinations is R52, 384 million.

Our priority for 2006 is to intensify our effort by consolidating all the processes we have put in place during 2005. We will sensitise our learners and regional officials regarding the pass requirements of the NSC. Flyers will be developed by the assessment directorate outlining the rules of combination and the pass requirements and these will be distributed to all examination centres.

Conclusion

Madam Speaker, ladies and gentlemen, the Department’s regionalisation process is still on track. During 2005/6 we prioritised the appointment of educators in the regions. Having declared last year “The Year of the Foot-Soldier,” I have gone far in delivering in this regard. However, because of a limited budget I could not reach the target of 100 percent appointments in all Area Project Offices (APO). We are, however, proud of some of our exemplary foot-soldiers. There were three provincial winners from the southern region, Ms Sonja Coetzer (Laerskool Mooirivier) for Excellence in Primary School Teaching, Mrs Charmaine Hutton (Central Primary) for Excellence in Early Childhood Development and Mrs Daphne van Rensburg (Principal of Central Primary, Potchefstroom) for Lifetime Achievement. Mesdames Coetzer and Hutton went on to become national winners in their categories for 2005. I applaud them.

Partnerships with the platinum mines appear to be paying off. Marikane Primary School was built in partnership with Lonmin Platinum and handed over to the Department. In Moses Kotane East, the following schools were extended, renovated and handed over to the department by Anglo Platinum on 2 September 2005: Raphurele High School at Welgaval Village, Lerome Middle School at Lerome Village and Madima Primary School at Manamakgotha Village.

Bophirima managed to forge partnerships with Samancor and the Transnet Foundation. Samancor Foundation funded a Resource Centre to an amount of R3, 1 million currently under construction at Batlharos Village in Gasegonyana Area Project Office (APO). Transnet has donated a high school of 24 classrooms, administration block, library and computer centre at Mmamutla Primary School in Greater Taung.

In the southern region, Anglo Gold Ashanti funded eleven classrooms additions to the administration block and a block of toilets at Inyathelo Primary School in Orkney.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank these companies for their support.

Bophirima has on continuous basis engaged former model C schools on the racial integration of staff, learners and school governing bodies. Much progress occurred with learners and school governing bodies. However, the integration of school staff is gaining momentum. Vryburg High School has African teachers as part of management. Stellaland Primary School appointed an African HOD this year. Four schools are left to make a start in this regard.

Madam Speaker, at this juncture I wish with the same breath to thank the honourable Premier and other colleagues in the Executive Council (ExCo) and the legislature, particularly, the Portfolio Committee on Education, all our stakeholders and my senior managers and staff for having stood by me during the rather painful journey we had to travel last year and also call upon them to join the band wagon and lend their collective might to the just course to bring relief to the masses of our people.

For according to Albert Pine, “what we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

So let us not stand aloof, for it is said “the greatest sin of our time is not that of the few who have destroyed, but the many who have watched on idly.”

Ke a leboga, dankie, thank you! May the Almighty bless us!

Issued by: Department of Education, North West Provincial Government
18 May 2006
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za/)