2009/01/22
OFFICIALS from Pretoria are preparing to take control of the Eastern Cape Education Department following years of poor academic results. The move shocked provincial administrators, who admitted yesterday they had no idea of the impending takeover by Pretoria.
But the action was confirmed by national education director- general Duncan Hindle, who said Section 100 of the Constitution allowed them to take over the running of provincial departments.
“We will be meeting with the political leadership in the province this weekend to iron out the details and the specifics of the size and nature of the intervention,” said Hindle.
Government sources said a co- ordinating task team had already been sent to the province with a proposal of solutions to fix the continuing shambles in the provincial department.
In addition, the national department is understood to have offered assistance based on the recommendations of the task team, which found a litany of problems, including:
l Lack of monitoring and evaluation systems;
l A high number of staff vacancies in critical areas;
l Poor leadership and lack of leadership stability; and
l Lack of co-ordination and poor quality of teaching.
The rescue plan was apparently accelerated following last year’s appalling matric results – the province achieved a 50.6 percent pass rate.
The Dispatch understands the proposal was tabled and approved at a Cabinet lekgotla that took place yesterday.
The biggest teachers’ union in the province, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), welcomed the move.
Provincial secretary Mxolisi Dimaza said they had been calling for an intervention programme for three years.
“We have no problems with it,” said Dimaza. “The strengthening should focus on bringing at least five people from national for each section so that there can be adequate response to problems.”
Dimaza said the department should also rehire, as the departmental head, Professor Harry Nengwenkulu, who spent considerable time with Bhisho’s educational management team, sharing best practices required for the sustained turnaround of the department five years ago.
The latest move is believed to be part of the ANC -led government’s decision to overhaul the Eastern Cape ’s administration as they seek to make education a priority in their election campaign.
Details of the plan are sketchy but it is understood to have the blessing of the party’s highest decision-making body, the national executive committee’s (NEC) education subcommittee, chaired by Dr Zweli Mkhize.
Education Minister Naledi Pandor is visiting the province tomorrow to meet with her MEC, Mhlubandile Qwase.
Pandor is scheduled to pay surprise visits to various schools in the Mbizana District Municipality area in Bizana, accompanied by Qwase, as part of the department’s back-to-school campaign.
Provincial spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said they were unaware of Pretoria’s moves to assume control.
“We are not aware of any such issue, as the department. We are waiting for communication on the matter. We have not received any communication to that effect.”
This not the first time that a provincial department has been rescued by a national government. Last year the provincial housing department was given a team of experts to help it accelerate housing delivery. That followed the provision of houses in the province plummeting from 37000 units in 2005 to 11750 in the past financial year.
The official opposition in the province, the Democratic Alliance, said it was also not the first time that national intervention has come to the education department in the past five years.
“The provincial department of education should close shop so that a total overhaul can be made right from the bottom to the top,” said Donald Smiles, the DA’s provincial education spokesperson. - By MSIMELELO NJWABANE
Political Reporter
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