President Zuma upbeat at Eastern Cape Education Progress

President Jacob Zuma is upbeat following his meeting last night, 13 September 2011, with the Presidential Eastern Cape Education Task Team at Genadendal Residence in Cape Town.

The meeting had been convened by the President to assess progress made in restoring education in the province to normality.

The President established the task team following his education monitoring visit to the Eastern Cape on 7 June 2011, and against the background of the invoking of a Section 100 (1) (b) intervention by Cabinet, aimed at achieving aturnaroundin education in the Eastern Cape Province. The President is personally monitoring the turnaround plan to ensure effective delivery and urgent attention.

The team of National Cabinet Ministers and Provincial MEC's presented a clear plan of action on the major areas of deficiency to the President.

It was agreed that the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, through the provincial department of education, will take full responsibility for the implementation of the intervention, with the national government, through the Department of Basic Education taking responsibility for monitoring the implementation and providing the necessary support. The National Treasury and the Department of Public Service and Administration are also involved.

The Minister for Basic Education and the MEC for Education will be the focal and communication points for the intervention.

"I am very happy that the biggest stumbling block has been removed, that of delineating roles, responsibility and accountability. Now that these have been clarified, all teams must get down to serious work. There is a lot that must be corrected to normalise education delivery in the province. We are very optimistic and determined to make this intervention a success. As of now, everybody must focus on preparing children for the coming matric exams. They must not be further disadvantaged, they deserve the best quality service like all other children," said President Zuma.

The President said a full report will be presented to Cabinet and to the National Council of Provinces.

The Presidential task team will be the overall oversight mechanism, meeting at regular intervals to harmonise the work of the province and national and report tothe President. The President's five a side task team comprises:

• Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga
• Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan
• Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Jeff Radebe
• Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande
• Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mr Richard Baloyi

• MEC for Provincial Planning and Finance, Mr Phumulo Masualle
• MEC for Education, Mr Mandla Makupula.
• MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Ms Xoliswa Tom
• MEC Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr Mcebisi Jonas
• MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs Mr Mlibo Qhoboshiyane

The following are some of the service delivery areas that were identified as needing urgent attention:

• Provision of resources and support to all districts to implement the 2011 Grade 12 learner support programme for spring and weekend extra classes until learners finish writing the end of year exams.
• Strengthening the decentralised National School Nutrition Programme in terms of areas of procurement, facilities for feeding, food handlers, cooking utensils, quality and quantity of food and sound financial management and accountability,
• Finalise the 2012 schools post establishment.
• Ensure that stationery and textbooks are supplied to all learners.
• Take appropriate steps to provide school furniture to all schools that are in need as a matter of extreme urgency.
• Ensure that steps are taken to ensure strict adherence to gazetted dates for the transfer payment of funds to Section 21 schools in terms of National Norms for School Funding.
• Provision of proper and sustainable learner transport to all learners who qualify in terms of policy.
• Filling of all critical vacant posts for schools of learners with special education needs.
• Implementing reversal of irregular salary increases.
• Take steps to fill substitute posts on time.
• Merger and closure of schools that are not educationally viable.
• Redeployment of excess teachers to where they are needed most.
• Implementation of the audit rectification plan, so that the department can move from a disclaimer audit opinion to at least a qualified audit.
• Clearing backlogs of appeal cases of employees.
• Finalising all outstanding disciplinary cases involving employees.
• Conducting the head count of learners and employees.
• Strengthening internal audit and risk management unit.
• Improve expenditure on conditional grants.
• Ensure compliance with legal prescripts pertaining to human resources, finance and other requirements.
• Take steps to provide all storm damaged schools with mobile classrooms until permanent structures are built.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of the Section 100 (1) (b), and both the province and national government recommitted themselves to ensuring success.

"We wish the province well in this mammoth task. Education in the province has faced challenges over a long period of time, but finally, a solution is in sight and we will succeed, working together,'' said the President.

The President's task team will meet again in six weeks to review progress in the implementation of the action plan.

Statement issued by Mac Maharaj, The Presidency, September 14 2011

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