Weeks after a settlement was reached between former provincial education head of department Mthunywa Ngonzo and Premier Phumulo Masualle, the top post is now up for grabs.
Masualle’s office finally advertised one of Bhisho’s toughest jobs – head of department for education.
Last month two senior education department officials, director-general Philiswa Mdikane and chief director for human resources Welile Payi, were suspended when it was revealed the department had failed to spend R530-million meant for poor schools and the filling of critical vacant teaching posts.
The provincial government came in for heavy criticism for the lack of spending due to the school infrastructure backlog and the large number of mud schools still in use.
In the advert, Masualle’s office said the R1.6-million-a-year job will go to “a strategic leader who is conversant with the country’s constitution, legislative and education policy environment to turn around the department”.
Masualle ousted Ngonzo in February after the latter was suspended in 2014 for charges related to mismanagement of a R46-million school furniture tender which the Bhisho High Court later ruled was awarded irregularly and unlawfully.
Provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said: “It is critical that we get a permanent head of the department as part of our strategy to get the department to move forward.
“As we all know, the department is faced with a number of challenges which include the continued failure of the matric pass rate, the inability to spend allocated budget and infrastructural issues.”
Kupelo said the challenges meant the chosen candidate would have to completely overhaul the department to get it working again.
“The problems that are in the department of education are systematic, they are not the problem of the MEC,” he said.
“We need a suitable candidate with a strong character who will assemble a team and embark on a cultural change in the department and ensure that the core business of the department becomes a priority in terms of delivering services to the people.”
DA spokesman on education Edmund van Vuuren said the job should go to a qualified candidate and not a “cadre”.
“We need someone who is passionate and knows what is needed in education to ensure stability,” he said.
Top education job advertised at last
Masualle’s office finally advertised one of Bhisho’s toughest jobs – head of department for education.
Last month two senior education department officials, director-general Philiswa Mdikane and chief director for human resources Welile Payi, were suspended when it was revealed the department had failed to spend R530-million meant for poor schools and the filling of critical vacant teaching posts.
The provincial government came in for heavy criticism for the lack of spending due to the school infrastructure backlog and the large number of mud schools still in use.
In the advert, Masualle’s office said the R1.6-million-a-year job will go to “a strategic leader who is conversant with the country’s constitution, legislative and education policy environment to turn around the department”.
Masualle ousted Ngonzo in February after the latter was suspended in 2014 for charges related to mismanagement of a R46-million school furniture tender which the Bhisho High Court later ruled was awarded irregularly and unlawfully.
Provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said: “It is critical that we get a permanent head of the department as part of our strategy to get the department to move forward.
“As we all know, the department is faced with a number of challenges which include the continued failure of the matric pass rate, the inability to spend allocated budget and infrastructural issues.”
Kupelo said the challenges meant the chosen candidate would have to completely overhaul the department to get it working again.
“The problems that are in the department of education are systematic, they are not the problem of the MEC,” he said.
“We need a suitable candidate with a strong character who will assemble a team and embark on a cultural change in the department and ensure that the core business of the department becomes a priority in terms of delivering services to the people.”
DA spokesman on education Edmund van Vuuren said the job should go to a qualified candidate and not a “cadre”.
“We need someone who is passionate and knows what is needed in education to ensure stability,” he said.
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