1. “SGBS CHANGING THE EDUCATION LANDSCAPE” STATUS OF PREPARATIONS FOR SGB ELECTIONS 27 February 2018

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE PURPOSE BACKGROUND DECLARATION OF ELECTION PERIOD
STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ELECTIONS
LETTERS TO HODS
THE ROLE OF SGB ELECTION TASK TEAM
PREPARATIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ELECTIONS
MONITORING OF THE STATE OF READINESS
PHASE 1 PROVINCIAL MONITORING BY THE DBE
FINDINGS OF PHASE 1 MONITORING
PHASE 2 PROVINCIAL MONITORING BY THE DBE
FINDINGS OF PHASE 2 MONITORING
SUMMARY ON DBE FINDINGS
SGB ELECTIONS LAUNCHES
ADVOCACY
STAKEHOLDERS
OUTSTANDING MATTERS
RECOMMENDATION

3. PURPOSE
To present to the Portfolio Committee the status of preparations for the SGB Elections 3

4. BACKGROUND
Section 31 of the South African Schools Act, Act no. 84 of 1996 (SASA) as amended, stipulates that the term of office of a member of a governing body other than a learner may not exceed three years.
The previous SGB elections were conducted in March 2015.
The term of office of the current governing bodies expires in March 2018. 4

5. DECLARATION OF ELECTION PERIOD
The Minister of Basic Education announced in Government Gazette the 2018 School Governing Body Elections Period as 1 – 31 March 2018. 5

6. STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ELECTIONS
The election of SGBs is one of the flagships of the education sector that has to be prioritised by all provinces in terms of planning, budget allocation and the allocation of both physical human resources.
Governing bodies have a strategic significance as identified by the National Development Plan (NDP) which calls for the alignment of the interests of all stakeholders to support the common goal of achieving good educational outcomes that are responsive to community needs and economic development.
The SGB elections contribute to the development of a strong sense of community ownership.
The performance of schools tends to improve when parents are actively involved and take an interest in the affairs of the school. 6

7. LETTERS TO HODS
The following requests were made to the Provincial Heads of Education in the letter by the DG:
Appointment in writing of Provincial Election Officer;
Promulgation of the SGB Election regulations;
Production of the SGB Election circular;
Management plan that includes:
Launch of the SGB Election in the Province;
Appointment of Election Officers;
Advocacy campaign; and
Development of election training material. 7

8. THE ROLE OF SGB ELECTION TASK TEAM
The DBE has established a Task Team composed of SGB association members and provincial SGB coordinators to:
Plan for the forth coming elections;
Provide support to provinces; and
Bring about uniformity in the sector. 10

9. PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SGB ELECTIONS
Establishment of an SGB Elections Task Team (DBE, Provinces and NCF);
Development of elections guidelines;
Development of training manual for electoral officers
Setting of election dates;
Advocacy;
Appointment of Provincial Electoral Officer;
Appointment of District Electoral Officer;
Development of provincial management plans;
Twinning of school; and
Development of voters roll. 8

10. MONITORING OF THE STATE OF READINESS
The DBE wrote letters to HODs informing them of the 2018 SGB Elections readiness monitoring visits.
The templates used during the visits focused on the following:
Advocacy;
Budget;
Documentation;
Election Teams;
Monitoring and Evaluation;
Physical Resources; and
Three teams visited three Provinces (per team) from the 21st of September 2017 to the 5th of October 2017 as indicated below. 9

11. FIRST PHASE MONITORING BY THE DBE
DATES
PROVINCES
21 September 17
Gauteng
26-27 September 17
Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Western Cape
28-29 September 17
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Free State
2-3 October 17
Northern Cape
5 October 2017
North West 11 11

12. FINDINGS OF FIRST PHASE MONITORING

13. Establishment of an SGB Elections Task Team (DBE, Provinces and NCF);
ACTIVITY
PROGRESS
Establishment of an SGB Elections Task Team (DBE, Provinces and NCF);
Done
Development of elections guidelines;
Development of training manual for electoral officers
Setting of election dates
Appointment of Provincial Electoral Officers
Appointment of District Electoral Officer
Development of provincial management plans 13

14. PHASE 2 PROVINCIAL MONITORING BY THE DBE
The monitored areas for the last state of readiness in provinces is as follows:
DATE
TEAM 1
TEAM 2
TEAM3
5– 8 February
EASTERN CAPE
Nelson Mandela
Sarah Bartman
Joe Gqabi
Chris Hani West
KWAZULU-NATAL
Ugu
UMzinyathi UMkhanyakude and
Ilembe
GAUTENG
Gauteng East,
Gauteng North,
Johannesburg Central,
Tshwane South,
Sedibeng West,
Johannesburg West and
Johannesburg South
12– 3 February
LIMPOPO
Capricorn
Mopani
Waterberg and
Vhembe
MPUMALANGA
Nkangala and
Bohlabela
WESTERN CAPE
Metro Central and
Eden and Central Karoo
15–16 February
FREE STATE
Motheo and Lejweleputswa
NORTHERN CAPE
Francis Baard and
ZF Mgcawu
NORTH WEST
Ngaka Modiri Molema
Bojanala

15. FINDINGS OF SECOND PHASE MONITORING

16. FINDINGS OF PHASE 2 MONITORING
ACTIVITY
PROGRESS
Sending out of circulars to schools
Done
Setting of election dates
In progress
Training of school electoral officers
Twinning of schools
Development of Voters Roll

17. SUMMARY OF DBE FINDINGS
Province
Advocacy
Plan
Budget
Regulations
promulgated
Circulars
Management Plan EC  FS GP  
KZN LP MP NC NW WC

18. SGB ELECTIONS LAUNCHES
PROVINCE
DATE
Eastern Cape
16 November 2017
Free State
19 September 2017
Gauteng
13 & 24 February 2018
KwaZulu-Natal
9 February 2018
Limpopo
26 February 2018
Mpumalanga
Done over radio stations
North West
30 January 2018
Northern Cape
26 January 2018
Western Cape
31 January 2018

19. ADVOCACY 21

20. STAKEHOLDERS Corruption Watch NECT Theme: Help turn Schools Around
Toolkit: PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY ELECTIONS
Information: Booklet 22

21. OUTSTANDING MATTERS Invitation letters to parents Monitoring schedules
Elections
Grievance Resolutions Teams
Orientation of newly elected SGB members
Final report

22. RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Committee notes the preparations for the 2018 SGB Elections. 23