Education Debate

ANC responds to Professor Jansen's challenge

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:07

Debating Education

Improving standards in schools, colleges and universities

Released by the ANC

Professor Jonathan Jansen from the University of Pretoria has challenged all parties to answer the following questions on education (The Times, "Vital questions for education", 29 January 2009). The ANC responds:

1. What will your party do if an MEC for education in one of the provinces shows blatant disregard for a scheduled meeting of the minister of education to discuss the opening of the school year, and trots off to attend the court proceedings for the president of her political party?

If an MEC doesn't send in an apology and constantly absents themselves from meetings, the ANC would certainly take action. We would be even more concerned if the meetings were cancelled due to low attendance or lack of preparation. Such a situation has not yet arisen in the 14 year of our democracy. I think we should all agree that the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) has functioned well and will continue to do so.

2. Given the acknowledged failure to deliver in the provinces on noble policies at the national level, would you appoint people to critical positions on the basis of their loyalty to the party, or on the basis of their competence?

The ANC believes that appointments should be based on competence and proven ability to execute. This is why we have paid increased attention to teacher development, the review of district offices and their effectiveness, and evaluation (with deans of education faculties) of initial teacher education in our universities. Further, the ANC has supported plans to upgrade teacher qualifications through the provision of bursaries. The ANC has also agreed to the establishment of a National Evaluation and Education Development Unit to review and audit education provision and quality on a regular basis. Such a unit will also have a remit to focus on skills and competence in schools, districts and provincial departments.

3. What would you do if the largest teachers' union, an ally of Cosatu (which itself is a member of the alliance), decides, like they did before, to close down and disrupt schools for weeks or months in the interest of their teachers - but to the devastation of pupil s and learning in our poorest schools?

Relations with unions have tended to be adversarial, but the ANC believes that increased cooperation and collaboration between teacher unions and political leaders will lead to improved attention to professional issues. We call for more professionalism. The non-negotiables outlined by our party in its manifesto - on time, in class, teaching - establish the framework within which we plan to pursue our links with teacher unions. We may need to ask parliament to review whether the usual form of public sector wage negotiations is appropriate for a profession that is so critical for the future of our youth and nation.

4. Given the evidence that poor leadership is to blame in many of the country's most dysfunctional schools, would you fire serially ineffective principals despite their loyalties to the dominant party?

The ANC supports the removal of principals, whoever they support, from schools that are serially ineffective. However, we believe we should retrain and mentor. Some steps in this regard have already been taken - the leadership training programme for principals and the creation of an Education Management Service division in education (with signed performance agreements). The Education Laws Amendment Act (2007) provided for curator teams to be established to support failing schools. The primary concern must be to increase effectiveness and quality learning outcomes. Several provinces have moved in this regard and the results speak for themselves. Thus, we do believe decisive action against failing leadership is necessary.

5. Given the additional evidence of schools in each province that repeatedly fail masses of learners, are you prepared to appoint an administrator to take over seriously malfunctioning schools - just as the legislation permits malfunctioning universities to be taken over by government?

Yes, but the ANC supports an administrative task team composed of individuals with different skills.

6. Given further evidence that in many of the under-performing schools, the problem is the teachers' knowledge of the subject matter, would you act against the protectionist instincts of the teachers' unions and test every teacher to see whether they know enough to teach our children?

The ANC does not believe that teacher testing is necessary. However, more must be done to improve their knowledge and implementation of the curriculum. The ANC is committed to improvements in this aspect of teacher development. It is our intention to work closely with all teacher unions, effective and professional NGOs, universities and other interested institutions to mount a vigorous content and curriculum development training programme.

7. Given the increasing demand for higher education in the country, would you "uncap" the limits imposed on university enrolments by the education department so that all young people who qualify can enjoy access to advanced training?

The ANC plans to increase university capacity, but believes enrolment planning is necessary for purposes of quality and efficiency. In 2007 we completed a collaborative enrolment planning process with all universities that sets out the future growth of the sector. In the planning process we found that the sector did not have much capacity for the growth we wish to see by 2015. We have agreed to initiate a process to determine future expansion of existing institutions and the creation of new capacity.

8. Given that the children of the middle classes start with a huge advantage in grade 1 because they attended excellent preschools, will you make and fund a compulsory, quality preschool for all children?

The ANC has provided for a massive expansion in Early Childhood Development (ECD) provision. Over 70% of our public primary schools now have a grade R class. We plan to expand provision through our participation in phase two of the Expanded Public Works programme ECD initiative. Through this programme we work with community providers to identify and upgrade ECD sites, train providers, register them as ECD sites and ensure they receive subsidies from the Social Development department and health services. The ANC is committed to the expansion of early learning opportunities.

9. Given the fact that the 2008 Mathematical Literacy paper contained a majority of questions common to much lower school grades, are you prepared to admit that the standard of education in the country is appallingly low?

The ANC doesn't admit that the 2008 mathematical literacy matric paper is a proxy for low education standards. While the ANC is committed to improving standards in schools, colleges and universities, our view is that education has improved for the majority of young South Africans.

10. Given the fact that the most competent teachers in the deep rural areas are often from India and Zimbabwe, are you prepared to permit a massive inflow of foreign teachers to help - in the short term - particularly with mathematics and science teaching in our poorest schools?

Yes. Government has recruited teachers from abroad, we have an agency appointed to assist with this process, and have now had many teachers from outside South Africa appointed in scarce skills posts. The approach is a temporary measure to assist us in our retraining and development of local teachers. Limpopo is leading the way in this regard and should be commended for their efforts.

11. Given the obvious incapacity of the Eastern Cape province to offer even a modicum of quality education to the majority living in that province -despite the rapid turnovers in the heads of department and MECs - is your party prepared to petition the national government to take over education in that province in the interest of the pupils?

The ANC believes that the national department must play a greater role in supporting and overseeing improved provision of education in the Eastern Cape.

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