Premier Phumulo Masualle will convene an urgent meeting to craft “an appropriate remedial intervention plan” on improving education in Eastern Cape schools.
As part of the intervention, Masualle said he had asked education MEC Mandla Makupula to send a task team to the Port Elizabeth district to deal with substance abuse, prolonged teacher absenteeism, non-delivery of textbooks for critical subjects such as physics, and vacant posts.
The Herald reported yesterday that 52 schools in Port Elizabeth’s northern areas are threatening to protest next week if the department fails to address their demands that posts be filled, and deals with overcrowded classes.
Addressing a press conference yesterday following a two-day visit to Port Elizabeth, Masualle said “the government will meet urgently, analyse the reports and develop an appropriate remedial intervention plan aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning”.
It remains unclear what form of remedial action the premier was referring to.
Masualle said teams led by executive committee members, that were assessing the state of schooling throughout the province, had identified factors that contributed to the poor performance in 2015. These included:
Teacher shortages;
Schools exposed to vandals and criminals, especially in the Port Elizabeth district; and
Teachers on sick leave for prolonged periods.
“We are particularly concerned to have learnt that in some schools textbooks for critical subjects like…maths and physics are yet to be delivered.
“We are declaring zero tolerance on delays in the filling of educator vacancies, long…sick without remedial action, late delivery of textbooks and poor monitoring of schools,” Masualle said.
He said having identified problems in areas such as Port Elizabeth that required urgent attention, “the education MEC will deploy a multi-disciplinary team to the metro before the 22nd to deal with all the issues raised”.
“We have just had a meeting with the stakeholders with a view to curb any possible disruption of the school operations at this critical moment.
“This province cannot afford such disruptions and waste of valuable tuition time.”
Remedial plan for ailing EC schools
As part of the intervention, Masualle said he had asked education MEC Mandla Makupula to send a task team to the Port Elizabeth district to deal with substance abuse, prolonged teacher absenteeism, non-delivery of textbooks for critical subjects such as physics, and vacant posts.
The Herald reported yesterday that 52 schools in Port Elizabeth’s northern areas are threatening to protest next week if the department fails to address their demands that posts be filled, and deals with overcrowded classes.
Addressing a press conference yesterday following a two-day visit to Port Elizabeth, Masualle said “the government will meet urgently, analyse the reports and develop an appropriate remedial intervention plan aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning”.
It remains unclear what form of remedial action the premier was referring to.
Masualle said teams led by executive committee members, that were assessing the state of schooling throughout the province, had identified factors that contributed to the poor performance in 2015. These included:
Teacher shortages;
Schools exposed to vandals and criminals, especially in the Port Elizabeth district; and
Teachers on sick leave for prolonged periods.
“We are particularly concerned to have learnt that in some schools textbooks for critical subjects like…maths and physics are yet to be delivered.
“We are declaring zero tolerance on delays in the filling of educator vacancies, long…sick without remedial action, late delivery of textbooks and poor monitoring of schools,” Masualle said.
He said having identified problems in areas such as Port Elizabeth that required urgent attention, “the education MEC will deploy a multi-disciplinary team to the metro before the 22nd to deal with all the issues raised”.
“We have just had a meeting with the stakeholders with a view to curb any possible disruption of the school operations at this critical moment.
“This province cannot afford such disruptions and waste of valuable tuition time.”
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