[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

29 May 2008

Madam Speaker
Hon Deputy Speaker
Hon Premier
Members of the Provincial Legislature
The House of Traditional Leaders
Representatives from Civil Society
Non-governmental organisations
Esteemed Guests, Parents and Teachers
Members of Teacher Organisations
Officials of the Department of Education
Special Guests from Schools
Media Representatives
Ladies and gentlemen

Introduction

Madam Speaker,
As Africans, we forget our history at our peril. It is important that we take the learning of our history, and the safeguarding of our culture and values seriously. As George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair) said "He who controls the past, controls the future; he who controls the future, controls the present."

Africans at home and in the Diaspora, of every social background, education, gender and belief, must rise to the call of cultural renewal and socioeconomic regeneration.

We cannot escape the political and socioeconomic environment in which we exist. In the face of the difficulty and crisis, Africans everywhere need to reinvent themselves, building on lessons learnt, creating new visions, and mobilising and developing their own resources (New African, October 2007).

"Free at last, free at last! Thank God almighty we are free at last!" This cry of Dr Martin Luther King in the 1960s still echoes deeply in our hearts. But how free are we now, 200 years after the abolition of slavery? In reality, how free are Africans and their descendants all over the world? (The New African Magazine).

It appears, unfortunately, that some people are captive to the past. But isn't development, including education, about change? In Africa's case, what we have been getting is poverty and dependence in all spheres of life, including education.

We are at a time when we import models and readymade solutions without much consideration to our situations. In pursuit of solutions to our problems, be it technological, educational or otherwise, it behoves us to recognise that these solutions have been developed by the rich western countries for the realisation of their interests.

Madam Speaker, the search for solutions to our problems should therefore be one for alternatives that would mobilise and develop our resources and capacities. Alternatives such as our management strategies, our educational models and practices, our compilation of statistics, and even the way we allocate resources to our schools need a whole paradigm shift.

Madam Speaker,
I would like to report that on 11 March, at Rethusegile High School in Lethabong near Hartebeespoort, it was my privilege to receive the Torch of Hope and Peace from my counterpart in Limpopo, the Honourable Motsoaledi. The theme of the torch ritual was, "Education Lighting the Torch to Create Safe and Caring Schools."

Madam Speaker,
We must do everything in our power to sustain the age of hope. Given that most of the main categories of the Apex Priorities announced by the President, the Honourable Thabo Mbeki, in his 2008 State of the Nation Address, relate to delivery in the Department of Education, the critical role of education in sustaining the age of hope is undeniable. It is all our intention to deliver in these priorities, particularly on the one targeting the enhancement of education and training.

Responding to the priorities outlined by the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr Trevor Manuel, this budget, amongst others, prioritises teacher remuneration, textbook provisioning, school building and early childhood development.

It is against the background of these and other mandates that I present to you this 2008/09 budget.

Programme 1: Administration (R512,537 million = eight comma eight percent increase)

Madam Speaker,

Last year, this august house prompted me to appoint the head of this department. In this regard, it is with pleasure that I report that Mr Hubert Mathanzima Mweli was promoted to the post of Head of Department as from 1 January 2008. On behalf of the North West Education Department, I would like to congratulate him and assure him of our unwavering support as he embarks to meet his new challenge. We have full trust in his ability to take this department to untapped territories.

Public service employees

Madam Speaker, to strengthen the administration of this department, last year, 38 public service employees were enrolled in the Post Graduate Diploma in Management, 102 in fire fighting, 90 in first aid, 120 as assessors, moderators and evaluator, 30 in office management, 62 on research and 59 on policy development.

The department trained 638 administration assistants in office management, 44 in occupational health and safety, 30 in government budgeting, 140 on diversity management, six on the EAP Programme and 16 in computer skills. Nine senior managers were sponsored by the department and received their Honours in Public Administration in March 2008. All senior mangers participated in the Khaedu programme.

During this financial year, 400 supervisors will be trained on diversity management.

There will also be administrative training for personal assistants. The Directorate: Finance will train 30 of its staff members and 25 supervisors on computerised archives. Because managing the PERSAL System is one of our greatest challenges, twenty five senior administration staff members will be trained in this area.

Madam Speaker, for public service employees, we also set aside three comma seven million rand for pay progression, R20,1 million for the improvement of conditions of service, five comma six million rand for Performance Management Development Systems (PMDS) and two comma two million rand for the grading of filled posts (job evaluation).

Departmental communication

Madam Speaker,
The first Inaugural MEC Service Excellence Awards was held during 2007. Aligned to the Premier Public Service Excellence Awards, the primary objectives of these non-monetary service excellence awards were to recognise centres of service excellence acknowledge the excellent work of officials and further entrench the Batho Pele Principles in the service delivery of the North West Education Department. All the winners are congratulated and their example will assist in fostering a culture of service delivery improvement.

A sound corporate identity was promoted through the development of "Team Education." All our campaigns, exhibitions and themes were aligned to the theme of our vision, "A Portrait of Excellence" In our continued endeavour towards accessibility; we have refurbished a building for our comprehensive Client Care Service.

Madame Speaker, allow me to indicate to the house that we have rekindled activities marking January of every year as "Education Month" Our monitoring of the opening of schools was very effective and I wish to thank all of you for enthusiastically participating. I would also like to thank members and communities who heeded our call for the voluntary cleaning of schools during the Letsema Campaign.

We, however, remain worried that our communities do not heed our call to register learners in time. Our other challenge is to ensure that our schools continue to evolve as centres of community life. In this regard, I will be launching two intensive campaigns to mobilize all our people to ensure that we eliminate queues on the first day of school, but also to invite able citizens to adopt a school. This call is also extended to all honourable members in this house.

Legal advisory services

The Legal Advisory Service Directorate spent its 2007/08 budget on salaries, administration, litigation and other goods and services. With an allocation of R8,229 million, in 2008/09, the directorate will continue to provide the Department of Education with the required legal advice.

Internal security

With an allocation R6,601 million in the 2007/08 financial year, the staff component was increased from three to eleven, at head office, and two in each region. The new staff members were suitably equipped to provide information on threats to the integrity of the department. This capacity enables the department to act effectively based on accurate information.

In the 2008/09 financial year, document security through digitisation will receive priority. As soon as the face-lifting of the Garona building is completed, access control systems will be installed.

Internal audit services

During the 2007/08 financial year R4,408 million was allocated to the internal audit services to implement the operational audit plan derived from the risk assessment that was done. Internal audit operated under the control of the Audit Committee.

The assurance services on the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control and reviews were conducted in the following programmes:
* adult basic education and training,
* security management,
* infrastructure,
* human resource management,
* financial and accounting services,
* asset management,
* procurement of goods and services and warehouse management.

Recommendations were communicated to the relevant supervisors and the implementation thereof is currently being monitored.

The Fraud Anti-Corruption Strategy was developed and implemented in the department through workshops, which promoted awareness of the control environment and made staff governance conscious. For the 2008/09 financial year R5,208 million is allocated for internal audit services to execute the audit plan and anti-corruption campaign.

Programme 2: Public Ordinary Schools Education (R5 854,226 million = 37 percent increase) school funding

Madam Speaker,

In the statement of the National Executive Committee, 8 January 2008, the president of the African National Congress (ANC), the Honourable Jacob Zuma, expressed the intention that "we need to pay particular attention to improving the access of poor South Africans to quality education… intensifying our effort to progressively introduce free and compulsory education for the poor until under-graduate level. As part of this, we must work to implement the resolution that 60 percent of all schools achieve no-fee status by 2009."

Madam Speaker, last year, this province already declared 928 schools in quintiles one and two as no-fee schools, which represents already 40 percent. This year, in quintiles one and two, we increase this number to 957 out of 1732, which will bring us to 55 percent. During the year, we will prepare for the addition of quintile three schools, which will bring us to the target of 60 percent in 2009. Just for the record, Madam Speaker, according to our formula, each learner at a quintile 1 school receives R775 and a quintile two school R711 per year. A total of R269 million will be transferred to schools during this financial year.

Learner support materials

Madam Speaker,

The 2007/08 allocation for learner and teacher support materials (LTSM) was R275 million. This money was mostly spent on textbooks in grade 12 where the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) was implemented the first time. The rest of the money went to learner stationery, Life Sciences kits and consumables for hospitality studies and technical subjects.

It is noteworthy that, by October 2007, the department was able to deliver 100 percent of ordered stationery for all grades for the 2008 academic year.

In my last budget speech, regarding LTSM, I indicated that the department would, for the first time, in line with the norms and standards for school funding, implement poverty biased funding. Thirty percent of the 2007 LTSM budget was, as a result, used on quintile one schools and only 11 percent on those in quintile five. We are happy to report that the R70 million for learner stationery was spent by schools according to the Resource Targeting Table (RTT) in keeping with the pro-poor funding principle.

The department conducted a needs analysis to determine the extent of under provisioning of textbooks in schools. With the R176 million allocated to LTSM, backlogs exposed by this needs analysis will be progressively addressed. Priority will also be given to supplying grade R, grade 10, National Curriculum Statement (NCS) literature books for grade 12 and learner stationery.

Educator remuneration

In the statement of the National Executive Committee, 8 January 2008, the president of the ANC said, "… we commit to restore, uphold and promote the status of teachers by remunerating them as professionals …" Madam Speaker, in this very critical regard, we budgeted R167,37 million for the implementation of the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD), R53,2 million to reward school-based educators in terms of the Integrated Quality Management Systems (IQMS) and R8,8 million for office-based educators in terms of the Performance Management Development Systems (PMDS), which includes the payment of backlogs.

Madam Speaker, further, for teachers, we allocated R46,15 million for salary progression, R245,7 million for the improvement of conditions of service, R44,9 million for incentives for rural schools, R85 million for the improvement of salary packages of principals, four million rand for social support to and counselling of educators and two comma nine million rand for the implementation of school grading norms.

Educator development

Madam Speaker,
In the statement of the National Executive Committee, 8 January 2008, the president of the ANC indicated that "we must focus in particular on developing the capacity of our teachers" In addition, Madam Speaker, we are fully committed to the Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategic Framework Vision 2015 and its four pillars, namely, the initiatives in (i) capacity development, (ii) organisational support, (iii) governance and institutional development and (iv) economic growth and development. One of our strategic goals is: "Develop the professional quality of the department's workforce" Flowing from this, one of our strategic objectives is: "to transform the workplace into a learning organisation." It is in this light that I would like to report on the development of our workforce.

Despite the public service employees strike in June 2007, the department submitted its Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR) to the Education Training and Development Practice Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA). We implemented various skills programmes, learnerships and training initiatives for employees and unemployed youth in our province. These include seventy two unemployed graduates who will complete the Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the North West University. Thirty employees were trained in Occupationally Directed Education and Training Practice (OD-ETDP).

Madam Speaker, we also funded a course in Public Sector Accounting for unemployed youth. Over 200 employees were awarded bursaries to an amount one comma eleven million rand.

The development of our institution-based educators remains a high priority of the department. In 2007, fifty educators completed the Advanced Certificate of Education (ACE) in mathematics and science. Another 47 remain in the programme and will complete the course during the 2008/09 financial year. At the Nelson Mandela and North West Universities respectively, 287 educators completed a course in mathematical literacy and graduated in April. An additional ninety eight educators completed a course in mathematics, science and technology at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. A further 2640 educators completed an ACE on curriculum and professional development and graduated in April 2007. Training for 1 449 under qualified educators was done, which upgraded their qualifications to Relative Education Qualification Value (REQV) 13 and 120 principals were trained in the ACE: leadership.

During the 2008/09 financial year, the department will implement its Interim Teacher Development Strategy. We will appoint interns and co-operate with various SETAs to implement learnerships for the unemployed youth.

At a cost of R14,4 million, we have enrolled a new cohort of two thousand educators at the North West University for the ACE: Curriculum and Professional Development. More than forty centres across the province will host this massive project. Funds were allocated for the training of 200 educators on Occupational Health and Safety.

This year, with the support of the National Department of Education, we have enrolled 100 educators for the ACE: mathematics, science and technology at the University of the Free State. One hundred and thirty educators who started with a similar programme last year are now completing their second and final year. We registered educators for mathematical literacy, which is crucial for the implementation of the new curriculum. During this year, we will train 376 grade 12 life orientation educators. Fifty educators will be trained in agriculture, 100 in technology education and 376 in English second language.

We budgeted for the upgrading of the qualifications of 100 educators through the National Professional Diploma in Education (NPDE). Funds are allocated for the enrolment of 120 principals in the ACE: Leadership programme. Subject specialists will be trained as assessors, facilitators, moderators and material developers. Fifty subject specialists will be trained on guidance and support to improve the learner attainment in the province.

Thirty eight Institutional Support Co-ordinators (ISCs) will complete their Post Graduate Diploma in Education during this financial year. Madam Speaker, during 2008/09, a total of R46,2 million will be spent on the developmental needs of our educators and other employees.

Madam Speaker, as we invest in the development of our teachers, we will be negligent if we do not remind our teaching force of their responsibilities. It was the Honourable Trevor Manuel, in his 2008 Budget Speech who quoted the 8 January statement of the ANC as follows, "… teachers in school, in class, on time, no abuse of learners and no neglect of duty – non-negotiable." Madam Speaker, I would like to indicate to the educators that, as much as I acknowledge their right to industrial action, I would be remiss if I do not state unequivocally that such action does immense damage to the culture of teaching and learning. I would also like to indicate that, in our province, we will always apply the no-work-no-pay principle very conservatively. And to those principals and teachers who abuse public funds and school learners, I would like to stress that the department will take disciplinary action without fear.

National teaching awards

Madam Speaker,
The North West participated with pride in the national teaching awards. As has become customary, we scooped up some of the major prizes. From our Southern Region, Mr G Xitlhabane came first in the category, Excellence in Inclusive and Special Needs Education, Mrs NV Oberholzer second in Lifetime Achievement and Mr T Mokhukhuwane second in Secondary School Leadership. I would like to congratulate these colleagues and encourage others to aspire as well. Thank you for keeping our province in high esteem. We will continue to support excellence.

Curriculum Delivery

Madam Speaker,
In 2007/08, four million rand was allocated for curriculum implementation in the Further Education and Training Band. This fund was mainly used for the implementation of the NCS, which was implemented in grade 11.

The National Department of Education trained teachers on subject content in the eighteen smaller subjects, while content training in the remaining 11 was done by our provincial subject specialists.

This year, four comma two million rand is allocated for curriculum implementation in the FET Band, which will be utilised for the implementation of the NCS in grade 12. Training also continues in three regions because of a backlog that was created by the 2007 teachers strike.

Madam Speaker,
R10 million is allocated for support to 6 008 grade 12 learners who were unsuccessful in 2007. Tuition is being conducted in the ten main subjects in 36 centres across the province. Learners in this programme will have the opportunity to sit for the external examination in May and June of 2008. This is a once off exercise driven nationally to offer learners the opportunity to exit the system before the new curriculum is externally assessed at the end of this year.

The General Education and Training (GET) Guidelines will be completed, printed and distributed to schools. External assessment will be done in grade three and six this year as well as Common Tasks of Assessment (CTA) in grade nine. The assessment policy will be translated into Setswana, and an overall strategy with emphasis on reading and writing will be developed for the foundation phase. Content workshops will be held in all learning areas.

I thank the Bojanala District Municipality for promoting environmental awareness in some of our schools and for funding the dramatisation of grade 12 set works. Learner Attainment Implementation Plan (LAIP).

Madam Speaker,
The implementation of our Learner Attainment Implementation Plan (LAIP) bore fruit as we finished the 2007 academic year. In her 2008 State of the Province Address, the Honourable Premier, Mrs Edna Molewa, pointed out correctly that the North West was one of two provinces that managed to improve its matriculation pass rate while all the rest dropped. We improved by zero comma two percent amidst the decrease in all other provinces but one.

For 2007/08, the special intervention for learner attainment received eight comma two million rand. As is common knowledge by now, an intensive LAIP was implemented and tightly monitored at all levels in the department. In line with this plan, the allocated funds were used for educator development, study guides, vacation classes, extra tuition, the recovery plan, rentals for school-based photocopying machine and the Taung camp for the Khutsong learners.

In her State of the Nation Address, the Honourable Premier referred briefly to our camp in Taung for the Khutsong learners. These children faced endless challenges, for example, their schooling was continuously disrupted, which forced the department to implement a rescue plan. Four hundred and thirty five grade 12 learners from Baderile, Tswasongu and Relebogile Secondary schools were hosted and intensely taught at Vuselela FET College in Taung. Despite all the challenges, the project finally proved to be very successful. The average pass percentage for these schools was 72,3 percent. This was indeed one of our great achievements of 2007. I want to say to the learners and parents of Khutsong that we are proud of this achievement and I want to re-assure them that they are absolutely welcome in our province and, as for all the rest, we will provide them with the best possible education.

To promote efficiency in the language of teaching and learning, English and Afrikaans teachers were trained in lessons planning and assistance to learners in answering question papers. All senior managers in the department adopted one or two schools that they intensely mentored and supported.

Madam Speaker, let me thank the Royal Bafokeng for funding parts of our recovery plan in Bojanala.

In 2008/09, an updated LAIP will continue to be implemented and with more vigour than ever. We are particularly challenged, this year, because it is the first time that examination will be written in the new curriculum and no former question papers are available to assist learners in their preparations. To meet this challenge, at least to a certain extent, we distributed exemplar question papers to high schools. The focus will be on educator development in all trapped subjects and bridging the content gap between the new and the old. Those schools offering matric for the first time will receive special attention. We will supply study guides on the new curriculum to assist both teachers and learners.

Clinics and competitions in speech and writing will be held. These areas remain priorities, as the lower grades are also targeted to develop language in the earlier years. For this financial year, nine million rand is allocated to improve the learner attainment.

Institutional development

During 2007, fourteen new ordinary public schools were registered, which increases the number of schools in the province to 2 099. As mentioned by the Honourable Premier in her State of the Nation Address, the merger of farm schools continues. We have received and worked through the submitted representations in this regard. Final consultations have started and upon completion I will declare the mergers in the Government Gazette as required by law. No school will be merged without the final consultation. A checklist is available that must be signed by key stakeholders before any merger can commence. I prefer not to merge schools against the wishes of stakeholders; however, where I deem a merger in the interest of deprived learners, I will not wait for agreement, particularly if I suspect that issues such as exclusive language rights are being abused to bar the disadvantaged from attending better
resourced schools.

I would like to thank Standard Bank and Xstrata for the blankets that they provided to learners at Moedville School. Thanks also go to Bhams Stationery and the Department of Social Development for providing farm learners with uniforms and educational programmes.

School enrichment (sport, arts and culture)

With the allocation R13,85 million of 2007/08, we promoted mass participation and intensified co-operation with other government departments and stakeholders in various sporting and cultural events.

The department delivered on cross country, which is dominated by rural and farm learners, athletics, netball, farm learner sport, sport for learners with special educational needs, mini olympic games such as basketball, volleyball, softball, baseball, gymnastics, chess, baton twirling, wheelchair basketball, hockey, cricket and rugby. We also delivered in the areas of choral music, cultural performances such as dramatised poetry and indigenous folklore. But, because of the industrial action, the department did not implement certain flagship programmes such as girl learner sport, indigenous games, music and movement. Similarly, because of the implementation of the recovery plan, the national cross country event could not be staged.

On Heritage Day, 2007, we hosted the Provincial South African Schools' Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) North West in the Convention Centre. The high levels of organisation and sophistication of this event reflect the success of choral music as well as opera in our province. The development of educators and learners in choral music and opera is starting to bear fruits and the spread of the 2007 Provincial SASCE North West Champions is testimony to that, with Bophirima winning three trophies namely Mixed Western, Mixed African and Duet.

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the 2007 Mezzo Soprano Champion Boipelo Mothibi of Ramadu High School for achieving second place in the small ensembles. It is with pride that I announce that the eight netball girls who were awarded bursaries last year for degree studies all promoted to the second year and are doing well both academically and in the field of play.

Madam Speaker, I also announce with pride and excitement that the 13 girls who took part in the National Under 19 Netball Tournament at Avion Park, Kempton in 2007, have been awarded bursaries to pursue degrees of their choices. Currently, 21 netball players from our province who went through our school enrichment programmes are studying at various universities utilising the same scholarship. Success Lekabe, a girl learner from Ikageng, was chosen as the best defender of the tournament whilst still studying at Gymnasium High. All universities in the country with an interest in netball were rushing to recruit her, including New Zealand.

In the Provincial Primary School Athletics Championships in Potchefstroom, forty six provincial records were shattered and four equalled. The wheelchair basketball did the province proud, with their performance, which led to the selection of Thato Phalatsi for the South African Development Team.

Madam Speaker, in 2006, the national ministries of education and sport signed a framework for collaboration in the delivery of school sport. Subsequently, on 17 October 2007, the MEC for Sport and I signed a Memorandum of Co-operation. I would like to thank the MEC for Sport and trust that this agreement will take school sport in the province to higher heights.

Congratulations, further, go to Kefilewe Morobane of Fields College for achieving the fourth position in the National Public Speaking Contest and Gabatshanewe Gumede for being an Ambassador of World Children's Rights.

Let me thank Aquarious Mines and Afrox for the television sets and sports equipment donated to learners at Moedville School.

School sport is a national priority; it receives an allocation of R10,726 million this year.

School library and media services

Two comma five million rand was allocated to school library services in the previous financial year.

With this amount, the department purchased library resources for 500 schools, promoted a culture of reading through three events and trained 750 teacher librarians.

In the 2008/09 financial year, three comma three million rand is allocated for school library services, which will be used to establish fully functional school libraries, promote a reading culture, continue the training of teacher librarians and provide mobile libraries to rural and disadvantaged schools.

The special intervention for mathematics, science and technology education. Madam Speaker, Our intervention in mathematics and science will intensify in the 2008/09 financial year. Last year, we allocated R26 million to this intervention. As alluded to by the Honourable Premier, much delivery occurred at these schools. They all received additional teachers. One comma six million rand was spent on getting the laboratories in the 61 Dinaledi schools functional. We also spent R12 million on macro and micro science kits.

In partnership with the ABSA Foundation and in line with our Education Development and Support Centre (EDSC) strategy, we built a state-of-the-art mathematics and science centre at Madikwe for four million rand. Our sincerest thanks go to ABSA. I would also like to thank Lonmin Mines for their support to our mathematics and science educators.

Through our partnership with the ETDP SETA, 74 mathematics and science educators completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with the North West University and were successfully placed in the province. An additional 182 educators were re-skilled to teach mathematical literacy.

In this financial year, Dinaledi schools receive R760 000 to provide every grade 11 and 12 learner with mathematics and science textbooks, dictionaries and calculators.

The construction of laboratories at Dinaledi schools continues. In the medium term, R18 million will be used to expand the provisioning of macro and micro science kits to all high schools.

This year, in partnership with the Transnet Foundation, and still in line with our EDSC strategy, a bigger state-of-the-art mathematics and science centre will be erected in Moretele at a cost of eight million rand.

Madam Speaker, two years ago we implemented our Girl Learner Intervention Programme (GLIP) with 10 centres and 1 500 learners in grades six, nine and twelve. This year, we expand the project to 18 centres with 2 700 learners receiving supplementary tuition on Saturdays. This expansion also includes vacation camps for grade 12 learners at five comma six million rand.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs V Monareng from Khayalethu Secondary School, Bojanala, for winning the Aggrey Klaaste Mathematics, Science and Technology Educator of the Year Award in the General Education and Training (GET) category. This won her school a fully equipped computer centre and science kits and herself a personal computer and R5 000 cash.

Systemic evaluation

Between September and October 2007, the North West Education Department participated in the grade three National Systemic Evaluation Project. This exercise is still in process. In this regard, a full report will be issued by the National Department of Education.

The department further implemented the grade three Quality Improvement and Development Upgrading Programme (QIDS-UP) Baseline Survey in 133 primary schools, which involved 5 320 grade three learners. The objective of the survey was to assess the performance of learners in numeracy and literacy. The programme received R10,5 million for educational resources to 215 primary schools, which was, amongst others, spent on a baseline study involving 152 schools in quintiles one, two and three. From this study, reports will be provided to each learner, school and Area Project Office (APO) to set improvement targets. In addition, a whole school evaluation exercise was completed at nineteen QIDS-UP schools to identify areas for development. The results were discussed with all stakeholders to improve future delivery.

In conjunction with the National Department of Education, the department joined 15 African countries in the grade six Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Education Quality (SACMEQ) in a large scale survey. This survey is repeated every three years and, last year, it involved 37 primary schools and 1 480 grade six learners from our province. The survey assessed the achievement of grade six learners in reading, mathematics and health knowledge.

Education Management Governance and Development (EMGD)

Much investment was done in regard to the training of school management and school governing bodies (SGB). Provincial regulations for SGBs were developed and are ready for release into the public domain for consultation, which will start in 18 April 2008. Training of members of the Representative Council for Learners (RCL) was conducted and further support for these bodies will be provided in the form of a seminar in September/October 2008.

During 2008/09 school management teams will be trained, newly appointed school managers inducted, and a conference for primary school principals will be held in May.

National School Nutrition Programme

Madam Speaker,
Last year, through a conditional grant, the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), received R87,916 million. The department soon discovered that this funding was not sufficient. The programme fed 416 952 learners for five days a week from April to June 2007. Because of shortage of funds, from July to September 2007, the number of feeding days was reduced to four a week, and three a week from November 2007 to February 2008. For the same reason, there was no feeding during March 2008. This is really very sad. The department regrets this state of affairs.

To date, 304 functional school gardens are in existence. Twenty eight capacity building workshops on food production and management of the vegetable garden were held. Four hundred and ninety nine educators, 747 learners, 399 parents and other government department officials participated in food production and vegetable garden management. Mokasa Primary School's sweet potato project produced one ton of sweet potatoes, which were used to supplement the feeding of learners.

During 2008/09, with a conditional grant allocation of R103,135 million, feeding will occur at a cost of 80 cents per learner for 172 days, four days per week. Principals will be involved in a tightened monitoring intervention to ensure effective spending.

In case of insufficient funds, the number of food items will be adjusted while the 172-day delivery plan will be sustained. Functional school gardens will be increased from 304 to 365 and 4023 service providers will receive nutrition education to ensure the safe handling of food.

School safety

Madam speaker, last year's allocation of three comma nine million rand was well spent on efforts to make our schools safer places. At a camp, during the December holidays, sixty five ministerial schools affected by crime received training on race and values.

Rethusegile Secondary, one of the ministerial schools, received a palisade and electrical fence, as well as security guards.

In partnership with the South African Police Services (SAPS), through the Adopt-a-Cop programme, 284 policemen were adopted by schools to help curb crime in schools. From 22 to 24 April 2007, the North West "Safety in Schools" Conference, hosted by the North West Education Department, Ferdinand Postma High School and the North-West University, was attended by 200 learners. In addition to those established in 2006, in 2007, 442 schools elected school safety committees. Fifty nine schools have security guards who are paid by the schools.

At the beginning of this year, school safety road shows were conducted to more than 60 000 learners across the province. The road shows focused on issues such as the creation of safe and secure environments, security of resources, crisis preparedness, patrol safety, Internet and mobile phone safety, first aid, trauma counselling, healthy living, emergency evacuation, child pornography and substance abuse.

In conjunction with SAPS, through Operation Naughty Boy, nineteen schools were searched for dangerous weapons and drugs. In collaboration with the Department of Social Development, the anti-drugs campaign, Ke Moja, continued at schools. Other programmes that were implemented at schools focused on bullying, victim empowerment, youth culture, creative arts and the beautiful school.

In the new financial year, Madam Speaker, with an allocation of R3,297 million, most of the activities mentioned will continue. From April, commissioned by the National Education Department, the Centre for Justice and Reconciliation started implementing the Hlaysikela Early Warning System Project. Security systems will be installed in schools with the highest prevalence of crime.

Infrastructure

During the 2007/08 financial year, R205,71 million was allocated to the physical resources and facilities. With this funding, six new schools were erected, and, as indicated by our Honourable Premier in her 2008 State of the Nation Address, 125 mobile classrooms were supplied. Consistent with our plans, however, twenty one schools were renovated and thirty nine were provided with sanitation facilities. The renovation of seven schools and the provisioning of sanitation at eleven schools are in progress and will still be funded from the 2007/08 budget. Also, the delivery of 125 mobile classrooms is in progress and will be covered through the 2007/08 budget. We successfully partnered with the Department of Public Works in all of these endeavours.

Madam Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the following donors and partners that contributed towards infrastructure development in Bojanala:
* Anglo Platinum, Anglo Plats (Swartklip and Rustenburg), Lonmin Mines, Sun City, Royal Bafokeng and Carousel for renovating schools
* Barrick Platinum South Africa and Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela Tribal Authority for toilets and nine schools
* PPC Cement for erecting the new school, Ramokoka Primary.

I would like to express the department's sincere appreciation for these efforts, as our school infrastructural backlog is one of our biggest challenges in the province.

Madam Speaker, let me, at the same time, make an urgent call to other possible partners to come to the party in this regard.

With an allocation of R240 million, in 2008/09, two new schools will be built and renovations will be done at nine through the Department of Public Works. Two hundred and eighty mobile classrooms will be distributed, fifty schools will be provided with clean water and forty with ablution facilities. Twenty schools will be rehabilitated through the new departmental Itireleng Project.

Maintenance of toilets will be completed in twenty schools.

Information technology (IT)

In the previous financial year, R21,17 million was allocated for information technology of which five comma one million rand went to phase three of the computerisation programme and R16,07 million to Education Management Information Services (EMIS). This allocation was mainly spent on computer laboratories at schools, rubricate software to the senior phase at all schools, monitoring, training of eighty principals where laboratories were provided, training of 26 EDSC managers and 836 schools on the School Administration and Management System (SAMS), educator support to the staff of Taletso FET College and Lonmin schools in Brits, Information Communication Technology (ICT) management, SAMS computer installation, internet connection for a thousand schools through MTN 3G cards and printers.

Forty two schools were computerised. In addition, PriceWaterhouseCo-opers (PWC) sponsored the computerisation of five schools and Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) seven. I would like to thank these two organisations for their generosity.

Madam Speaker, let me thank Lesedi Technology for renovating computer laboratories at two schools and the Bojanala Municipality and the Royal Bafokeng for IT equipment supplied to schools.

We will support schools to integrate computers into teaching and learning and guide them on how to use SAMS and the Internet. Additional software will be provided and connectivity and the use of e-mail will be expanded. We will further implement a system that will enable us to conduct all future surveys electronically.

Programme 3: Independent School and Home Education (R7,350 million = five percent increase)

Madam Speaker,
An allocation of seven million rand for subsidies to independent schools was spent 100 percent during the 2007/08 financial year. In 2008/09 this allocation increases to R7,35 million.

Recently, in March 2008, the education department promulgated regulations for independent schools and home education. This financial year will see the vigorous application of these regulations. So far, 18 home learners registered.

Programme 4: Public Special Schools Education (R137,708 million = one comma four percent increase) In 2007, an allocation of R135,776 million was made to Special Schools and Inclusive Education, which included compensation of educators, the strengthening of special schools, hostel subsidies, bursaries, maintenance, learner transport, assistive devices, equipment and vehicles. The strengthening of special schools also included the transformation of assessment and enrolment procedures in special schools.

During 2007, progress was made in all of the areas mentioned; however, it is worth mentioning that we purchased nine vehicles, provided a transport subsidy to needy learners and, on 8 January 2008, established the Christiana School for the Blind.

In the 2008/09 financial year, the department allocates R137,04 million for inclusive education and the running of special schools. This includes the R68 million for the strengthening of special schools that the MEC for Finance, the Honourable Maureen Modisele, refers to in her budget speech. This budget will be spent on salaries, administration, maintenance, full service schools, resource centres, subsidies, bursaries, learner transport, assistive devices and other material resources. Thirteen vehicles will be purchased and, in line with the national rollout, the first full service school will be established.

Madam Speaker, our Bojanala Region managed to obtain the sponsored services of ten American optometrists to teach our educators on how to conduct pre-screening of learners that are visually challenged. The optometrists also screen learners and provide them with a free pair of spectacles if necessary. During April, 1 000 learners already received spectacles in this way. By the end of this year, we hope that all the learners in the region will be screened and provided in this regard. This activity will amount to a total investment of three million rand.

Programme 5: Further Education and Training Colleges (153,201 million = 31 percent increase)

Madam Speaker,
Consistent with the intentions of the Honourable Thabo Mbeki expressed in his State of the Nation Address, our department will intensify its participation in the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA). We welcome government's continued intervention in the Further Education and Training (FET) colleges and, through the recapitalisation of FET colleges, we will persist with the strengthening of training at these institutions.

The second phase of the recapitalisation, which ended in March, received R28,725 million in the previous financial year. It gives me pleasure to indicate that this amount was fully spent on the upgrading of classrooms, workshops and campus sites, equipment, projects, programmes, renovation and the implementation of the new National Certificate: Vocational (NCV) Level two programmes. The recapitalisation programme will continue with an allocation of R61,644 million.

Madam Speaker,
In terms of the new FET Act, No. 16 of 2006, colleges became semi-autonomous taking over mainly their own human resource and finance functions. Existing permanent staff had the opportunity to choose whether to stay on the role of the department or to join the staff complements of the semi-autonomous colleges.

Consistent with Section 3.13 (a) (iv) of the ELRC Collective Agreement No 5 of 2007, we published a closed vacancy list during the last quarter of the financial year 2007/08 to provide unplaced FET college employees with the opportunity to apply for vacant posts within the department. All college staff was fully informed regarding this process. New college councils were elected, trained and inaugurated in April 2008.

Madam Speaker,
During 2007/08, learners at colleges received bursaries totalling five comma five million rand to fund their participation in the NCV and five million rand for participating in the old NATED and Skills Programmes. In spite of the poor performance in mathematics and engineering, the results of the three colleges were exceptionally high.

Our FET colleges are doing generally well. Vuselela attained fifth position in the general performance of all colleges nationwide. Mrs Marais, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Orbit FET College received gold for Leadership in the Premier's Public Service Excellence Awards and, at the same occasion, Vuselela FET College received bronze for their Early Childhood Development programme. Two students at Orbit College, Mr LT Maboa and Mr PS Makhoye, received Microsoft Certification. Ms A Philips, a jewellery student at Orbit College, won the PLAT Africa Award for originality in design. Vuselela, in partnership with ROC A12 from the Netherlands, is running a student exchange programme through which students and staff members are provided with an international experience.

Madam Speaker, 2008/09 is the last year of the SESD Programme, which was sponsored by the Danish Embassy over the last five years. The programme has assisted with the successful merger of our FET colleges, skills development, partnerships and student support. I would like to thank the Danish embassy once again for the valuable contribution towards the development and consolidation of the FET college sector.

Programme 6: Adult Basic Education and Training (R110,17 million = zero comma three percent increase) Madam Speaker, Honourable Members, Last year, adult education received an allocation of R102,071 million. For the first time, textbooks covering ABET levels one to four were delivered to ABET centres. Also for the first time, ABET levels one to three learners wrote common provincial papers and the moderation of Continuous Assessment (CASS) and question papers in general were done effectively.

Madam Speaker,
Constantly improving the quality of our ABET provisioning, during 2007, the department trained 150 ABET educators as assessors and twenty as moderators. Towards the same goal, an additional 150 were trained as coaches and mentors. To improve the financial management in the centres, we trained forty two centre managers on financial and project management.

Madam Speaker,
Over the past few years, the literacy rate in our province improved steadily. During the 2007/08 financial year, we contracted four hundred facilitators to teach basic literacy in four hundred literacy units. Thirty five of these units are located within other government departments. In regard to the Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign, which the President announced in his State of the Nation Address, the North West Education Department, during 2008/09 will train grade 12 master trainers who will provide basic literacy classes to 27 000 functionally illiterate adults and youths over sixteen years old. This includes the training of co-ordinators, supervisors and monitors who ensure that the programme is effectively implemented according to the national mandate.

In collaboration with the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and other training bodies like MINTEK, skills programmes at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level one are offered as part of the ABET Expansion Programme.

As part of the Multi Skilling Initiative, MINTEK runs the AMASO Glass Beads Manufacturing Programme. Training is also done in pottery, stone carving and brick and crop production. The Energy SETA facilitates the provisioning of basic electricity installations and repairs at the Electrical Contractor Operator (ELCONOP)

1. The Construction SETA is training our learners in bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, plumbing, painting and glazing. All the above trades are based on accredited unit standards that are combined to provide successful learners with a General Education and Training Certificate (GETC). In February 2008, we certified 893 learners trained by the Construction SETA and 398 by the Energy SETA. This is an outstanding achievement and I would like to take the opportunity to thank the two SETAs for their constructive involvement in poverty alleviation in our province.

As part of the skills learners' experiential learning, ceilings, roofs, walls and cupboards are repaired at many host schools and ABET centres. Super structures are also erected at ABET centres to showcase learners' acquired skills.

We continue to expand the provision of Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) through Public Adult Learning Centres. During 2008, these centres increased from fifteen to 255. In collaboration with other government departments, thirty five centres exist in addition to those of the Department of Education.

In the adult education sector, it will definitely be "Business Unusual." Profound change is awaiting implementation in this area. In his State of the Nation Address, the Honourable Thabo Mbeki alluded to the reduction of unemployment and the antipoverty strategy of government. To contribute towards the achievement of these goals, the North West Education Department collaborates with the Youth Commission and the ETDP-SETA, to create a cadre of qualified ABET practitioners through learnerships. This initiative also contributes towards the delivery of the National Skills Development Strategy. Participating learners who are matriculants recruited from rural and impoverished communities receive a stipend of R1 500 per month. A hundred and fifty learners participated already and four hundred are currently enrolled.

Programme 7: Early Childhood Development (R164.165= increase of three comma two percent)

Madam Speaker,
As part of the poverty alleviation and the Expanded Public Works Programme, the Honourable President mentioned the training of ECD caregivers and practitioners, which was echoed by the Honourable Minister of Finance in his 2008 Budget Speech.

During 2007, this programme was delivered with excellence in our province. We have just approved the posts of seventeen officials, on contract, to continue with the delivery on this programme. As in the previous two financial years, in 2008, we will train 630 ECD caregivers and practitioners.

During 2007/08, using R11,5 million, as part of the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP), the department trained 330 caregivers on NQF Level one and 300 practitioners on NQF Level four. Through this programme, the department also appointed seventeen ECD office based educators on contract at head office, regions and APOs.

Fifty schools were provided with basic resources towards the incorporation of grade R into primary schools. This process will continue. During this financial year, early childhood development centres will be handed over to the Department of Social Development. The Department of Education will retain the responsibility for curriculum delivery and the training of practitioners.

Programme 8: Auxiliary and Associated Services (R56,125 million = two comma five percent decrease) HIV and AIDS (R12,229 million = one percent increase)

Madam Speaker, in his closing remarks to the Polokwane Conference, the president of the ANC called on all structures of the organisation to participate actively in the fight against HIV and AIDS. In line with his call, the North West Education Department is joining the fight with prevention strategies and support to families and individuals affected and infected.

With a conditional grant of R10,922 million in 2007/08, much was achieved in the HIV and AIDS programme. Two thousand officials, principals and parents attended advocacy workshops. A thousand and five educators were trained to implement the HIV and AIDS programme. Two hundred and eighty three educators and more than 24 000 learners were trained on abstinence and drug and sexual abuse. A further 125 educators were trained on peer education. A hundred and forty five educators accompanied 533 learners to peer education camps. Learning support materials were distributed to 711 schools and the implementation of the programme was monitored at 62 schools.

Centres of Care and Support were established at 280 schools and, in this regard, 2 000 resource kits were provided for training in regions. An audit was done on orphans and vulnerable children and, in the process, 814 homes were visited and 18 183 orphans and vulnerable children were identified and assisted.

Open days were arranged at Schools as Centres of Care and Support (SCCS) and, in collaboration with other departments (Health, Social Development and Home Affairs), large numbers of learners (and even elderly people in the school communities) were assisted to apply for identity documents and social grants. Since 2005, in partnership with the Royal Netherlands Government and the Media in Education Trust (MIET), through the SCCS project, 3 000 food parcels, 5 200 child grants, 500 old age pensions, 300 school uniforms, 200 foster care grants, 6 000 identity documents, 3 200 birth certificates, 40 death certificates, 20 marriage certificates, 30 passports, 2 900 home-based care books, 40 sets of garden tools and seeds and 60 trees were issued to participating schools and their related communities.

Also, as part of this programme, Rotary donated 40 wheelchairs, the business community 600 food parcels, 10 sewing machines, 80 blankets and 400 school uniforms and shoes, non-governmental organisations 2 000 clothing parcels and R5 000 cash and Place Dome Mine two toilets. Madam Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Netherlands Embassy and MIET for their donations and involvement in the project.

In our AIV/AIDS programme in the workplace, 90 officials at salary level seven to nine have been trained on the management of this disease. Thirty regional staff members will be trained on HIV and AIDS in the workplace (level one to seven) at a cost of R100 000.

In 2008/09 the HIV and AIDS conditional grant of R12,229 million will be used for advocacy, educator development, peer education, care and support, monitoring and support and administration.

Examinations, Assessment, Certification and Accreditation

Madam Speaker,

In the previous financial year, we allocated R57,557 million to examinations. With this allocation, we managed to administer the 2007 grade 12 examinations with great success. The National Department of Education indicated that the examination administration in the North West was one of the finest in the country. It was concluded when the results were released on 28 December
2007.

The 2007/08 allocation was further spent on a full scale grade 11 external examination. This was done only by one other province. I can, however, assure you, Madam Speaker, that this will bear fruit when the grade 12 candidates write the first National Senior Certificate examination at the end of this year. We also administered two external examinations (May and October) for adult learners and grade nine Common Tasks for Assessment (CTA) Parts A and B.

This year, we will ensure the smooth implementation of the first National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. As I already mentioned, we are challenged, because grade 12 learners will, for the first time, sit for this examination. In addition to the distribution of the exemplar question papers, we will meet this challenge with a preparatory examination in September that will be written in the eleven big subjects.

The grades 10 and 11 underperforming schools will write common midyear and year-end examination papers in 10 subjects. ABET Level four examinations will be conducted in June and November. The grade 9 CTA's, part A and part B, will be administered during the last quarter of the academic year. External assessment instruments will be implemented in grades three and six. As I indicated earlier, all candidates who have not finished the NATED 550 Senior Certificate will get an opportunity during May/June 2008. This year's examinations programme receives a budget of R63,758 million.

Conclusion

Madam Speaker, in the spirit of the President's 2008 State of the Nation Address, I assure you that, within the North West Education Department, the 2008/09 financial year will indeed be one of "Business Unusual" and "All Hands on Deck." These are themes that the head of this department and I constantly echoed in a myriad of meetings with educators and stakeholders throughout this province over the past four months. This is a theme that we need, and are serious about. "Business Unusual", without a doubt, will take us a long way towards sustaining the "Age of Hope" that the President referred to during his State of the Nation Addresses of the past two years.

Madam Speaker,

Today, I would like to recognise Ms MS Vermaak from Orbit FET College who just completed fifty years of service as a lecturer.

My thanks further go to the following donors and partners:

Telkom for giving four learners from Bophepa, three from Ragogang, two from Boineelo and one from Gontse bursaries to study at the International School in Mmabatho for four years.

Matlosana Town Council for giving R100 000 in bursaries to deserving matrics to further their studies at universities and technikons.

Anglo Gold Ashanti for sponsoring the training of educators in Mathematics, Science and Technology in the KOSH area and also training primary school educators in the READ project.

Goldfields sponsored Carletonville Secondary School with R400 000 to upgrade the school.

NBI for sponsoring the implementation of the EQUIP Project in some high of our schools.

Madam Speaker, it is common knowledge that the matters of education are now societal ones, hence it is important that I extend a word of appreciation to the Honourable Premier, Edna Molewa, colleagues in the Executive Council, the Speaker and Members of the Provincial Legislature, the mayors and councillors, the teacher unions, the business community, parents, and all who have unflinchingly stood beside us during our trying moments.

Madam Speaker, my thanks also go to the gallant and dedicated senior managers and staff under the able leadership of Mr Mweli, the Superintendent General, who are working assiduously to leave our foot prints in the sands of time.

I want to end this speech by emphasising that we are the change agents of our circumstances. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow aptly puts it "Not in the clamour of the crowded street, Not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng. But in ourselves, are triumph and defeat."

The future therefore belongs to those who prepare for it today. So my clarion call to all partners in education (my colleagues in the Executive Council and the Provincial Legislature, Teacher Unions, Corporate Business, Parents just to mention a few) is: lend me your collective will for us to prepare today to possess the future.

Madam Speaker, for Education in the North West, in 2008, it is indeed a year of "All Hands on Deck."

May the Almighty God bless our efforts?

Thank you
Ke a Leboga
Baie Dankie

2007/08 Budget Summary
North West Education Department

Programme 1:
2008/09 MTEF: Administration
R'million: 512,537

Programme 2:
2008/09 MTEF: Public Ordinary School Education
R'million: 5 854,226

Programme 3:
2008/09 MTEF: Independent School and Home Education
R'million: 7,350

Programme 4:
2008/09 MTEF: Public Special School Education
R'million: 137,708

Programme 5:
2008/09 MTEF: Further Education and Training Colleges
R'million: 153,201

Programme 6:
2008/09 MTEF: Adult Basic Education and Training
R'million: 110,170

Programme 7:
2008/09 MTEF: Early Childhood Development
R'million: 164,165

Programme 8:
2008/09 MTEF: Auxiliary and Associated Services
R'million: 56,125

R'million: 6 995,482

Issued by: Department of Education, North West Provincial Government
29 May 2008