Priorities for the next five years Council of Education Ministers 16 February 2004

Highlights 1994 - 2004 Dismantled the apartheid structures & established a single system A more equitable distribution of resources in favour of the poor A stable system with virtually no industrial action A framework for the provision of free education for the poor Curriculum reform and improving quality Developing un-/underqualified teachers

Highlights 1994 - 2004 Increased access with 98% of children of school-going age in schools Increased learner performance in Grade 12 – from 53% in 1995 to 73% in 2003 Learner: classroom ratios dropped from 43: 1 to 38:1 Number of learners without water & sanitation decreased

Challenges Literacy rates are still low amongst the 24 – 65 year old group ABET - Uptake is low, drop out ratea are high and success rates are low Number of learners with good Maths & Science passes low Increasing crimes committed against children – indication of weak social fabric Flow through between FE and HE low

Government priorities Emphasis on the second economy “which economy constitutes the structural manifestation of poverty, underdevelopment and marginalisation in our country” (President Mbeki, SON 2004) Work vigorously to: Consolidate the work that we have been doing targeting poverty Increase the pace of delivery in areas that are weak so we do not regress Package service delivery by collaborating with other government departments to improve efficiency

Implications for education Continue working together with education communities in improving quality of education – Tirisano Identify key levers for education to respond to these challenges Focus will be on: Dealing with poverty Skills development Quality education Health and education Institutional capacity development

Dealing with poverty Develop a school uniform policy Investigate the “basic” minimum package to relieve the poorest 40% of learners from paying school fees Investigate other options such as transport subsidies, boarding allowance etc Ammend the Funding Norms: A national resource targeting table Compensate schools catering for the poorest Food security NSNP Food gardens

Skills development Improve ABET delivery Quality and relevance of programmes Partner with DoL, SETAs and NGOs Improve uptake, retention and success rates in ABET programmes Literacy campaign in the next five years Deepen and widen Maths & Science Strategy Schools of Focused Learning DoE/DoL leadership role in NQF implementation Increase NSFAS – ring fence for scarce skills

Quality in education Implement Integrated Quality Management System DAS, WSE Finalise teacher development strategy Roll-out of ICTs for teaching and learning Roll-out of NCS at Grades 10 to 12 Strengthen ACE, NPDE Delivery of infrastructure Values in education – social cohesion Sports, arts and culture Quality in higher education

Health and education Locate our HIV/AIDS programmes within the broader health issues Continue mitigating the spread of HIV/AIDS Role of nutrition in prolonging life A focus on reproductive health Health of children – eyes and ears

Institutional capacity Technical assistance to HE mergers Suppor FET institutions implement their strategic plans Management & governance training District development to support schools Improve capacity at provincial and national offices