N Pandor on appointment of Ministerial Committee to investigate and advise on mechanisms

Publication of the report on the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit (NEEDU)

17 April 2009

The Minister of Education, Mrs Naledi Pandor, appointed a Ministerial Committee to investigate and advise her on mechanisms through which the evaluation and development of schools can be undertaken. As part of their investigation, the committee had to do the following:

a. Review all existing policies, mechanisms, structures, processes and tools that evaluate and develop schools and teachers.
b. Review the international literature on similar school evaluation and development bodies in other countries.
c. Make recommendations on the structure and composition, location, functions, governance, name, cost and financing of an external organisation, accountable to the Minister, which will have the overall task of school evaluation and development.
d. Advise on the relationship between the proposed unit and existing policies and mechanisms aimed at school (including teacher and learner) evaluation and development.
e. Report to the Minister of Education on the Committee's findings and recommendations.

The following individuals were appointed by the Minister to serve in the committee:
* Dr. R Cassius Lubisi
* Professor Jonathan D Jansen (Chairperson)
* Dr Peliwe L Lolwana
* Ms C Sussana Muller
* Ms Amanda Sanger
* Ms Francine de Clercq
* Prof. Linda Amanda Darling-Hammond (Stanford, USA)
* Dr. Peter Matthews (UK)
* Mr Paul Colditz
* Mr Mxolisi Roman
* Ms Matseliso Dipholo
* Mr Steve Roux

The Committee commenced with its work on the 1st September 2008 and submitted its final report to the minister on 27 January 2009. Cabinet has approved that the report be released for public comments.

This statement serves to officially release the NEEDU report to the public for comments, with effect from today, 17 April 2009. Any interested individuals or organisations will have until 18 May 2009, to submit their comments to the department of education. The report as well as the government notice in this regard can be obtained from the DoE website, http://www.education.gov.za.

Enquiries:
Dr Granville Whittle
Department of Education
Tel: 012 312 5024
Cell: 072 148 9575

Issued by: Department of Education
17 April 2009
Source: Department of Education (http://www.education.gov.za)