Northern Cape’s MEC for Education Martha Bartlett has tabled her department’s budget vote with a firm focus on reinforcing quality teaching and effective learning. From the department’s budgetary allocation of over six billion rand (R6, 4 billion), various school based programmes have been adopted aimed at reinforcing a culture of learning and teaching.
A total allocation of over 700 million rand (R790 million) based on conditional grants will be used to impact directly on teaching and learning
“We shall use this investment to ensure that all our programmes are underpinned by an overall focus on sustained improvement in learner outcomes from Grade R to 12; enhanced accountability at all levels of the system; greater focus on basic functionality of schools; protecting time for teaching and learning; improved support for teaching and learning; increased efforts on time on task; and resource provision,” declared MEC Bartlett.
Imbued by the department’s unqualified audit which now allows for greater external focus; MEC Bartlett’s back to basics and pro-poor school posture will also affirm an alignment towards the National Development Plan (NDP) which calls for a change in gear in achieving economic growth through a capacitated workforce. The department is also set to host District Education Summits in its charge for strategic realignment.
Despite the province’s Matric results decline, MEC Bartlett hailed the ZF Mgcawu District for having been awarded the honour of being South Africa’s best performing district in Mathematics and Science.
She flagged the construction of eight new schools to the tune of over 500 million rand (R581 million) in all districts except for Namaqualand. An allocation of just over 100 million rand has been made for early childhood development.
The problematic learner transport will again be managed by the Department of Education amid having been shifted from the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison and set for effective management, with an overhaul of the tariff system also being likely.
However; the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) spokesperson on Education and Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) Safiyia Stanley welcomed the move for learner transport to be placed back under the grip of the department but warned that it could be jeopardized.
“The department’s budget presentation gives no clear indication that it is ready and willing to implement the learner transport function smoothly, effectively and efficiently,” decried the official opposition legislator.
By Thabo Mothibi
- PORTUGAL’S S.L BENFICA STAGES SOCCER CAMP IN KIMBERLEY - 10/12/2023
- JOBS ON THE INCREASE IN NORTHERN CAPE AS ECONOMIC BOOM AWAITS - 03/03/2023
- IT IS 70 YEARS SINCE KIMBERLEY’S 1952 MAYIBUYE UPRISING MASSACRE - 08/11/2022
- COETZEE FAMILY OF CILLIE VILLAGE IN KAKAMAS RECEIVES HOUSE FROM COLLEN MASHAWANE FOUNDATION - 08/09/2022
- CALLS FOR JUSTICE FOR CHAREEN MAY-AUGUSTINE ESCALATES - 08/09/2022
- DOING TOURISM WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE VAAL RIVER AT PNIEL - 12/08/2022
- 5 YEARS ON FOR GALESHEWE’S HOSPITALITY JEWEL – BATSUMI LUXURY GUESTHOUSE - 10/08/2022
- PSL TEAMS TO LOCK HORNS AGAINST HUNGRY LIONS FC AND BOTSWANA’S JWANENG GALAXY FC IN INAUGURAL NORTHERN CAPE PREMIER’S CUP - 04/07/2022
- NCAPE’S DEPT HEALTH RECEIVES COLD-CHAIN EQUIPMENT INJECTION FROM VODACOM - 01/07/2022
- A BOOST FOR NORTHERN CAPE’S SPORT TOURISM, MORE PROFESSIONAL BOXING ON THE CARDS - 27/06/2022
Thabo Mothibi is a former broadcast journalist (TV and Radio) – with specialist reporting experience; SABC Political/Parliamentary and TRC Teams over a period of five years (1995 to 2000).
One key foreign assignment - is the 11-nation African Connection Rally – overland journey from Africa’s northern-most pole in the coastal Tunisian city of Bizerte to the southern-most pole in South Africa’s Cape Agulhas. From the journalistic years, Thabo then delved into Government media liaison and serving two former Ministers and three MECs. He became the Northern Cape Provincial Government’s first department based Communications Director at Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development - 2008-2010 – where he also served as Head of Ministry from 2003 – 2008.
As a former anti-apartheid activist, his political background and professional training aided him in spearheading the Northern Cape ANC’s 2004 National Elections media and publicity campaign and that of the 2006 Local Government Elections.
Whilst based in Waterkloof in Pretoria -2010 to end 2011, he consulted for Manstrat Agricultural Intelligence, then returned to the Northern Cape in 2012 to date, to consult independently and pursue other entrepreneurial interests in media and communications through KwaVuko Communications and Marketing.
Thabo Mothibi obtained his NQF7 through Wits University’s Graduate School of Public and Development Management (P&DM) in Johannesburg, a Unilever Mandela Rhodes Academy for Marketing and Communications Academy (UMRA). The goal of the NQF7 programme was to educate and train public and private sector professional communicators and marketers in government communications..
Shortlink for this post: https://ncnn.live/?p=753