NALEDI SHOTA| 

Julius Malema, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president has called for the shut down of schools and crèches as the country inches closer to the third wave of the coronavirus. 

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday Malema said schools needed to close “immediately” before children die in numbers. 

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the country “ technically entered the 3rd wave today [Thursday] as the national 7-day moving average incidence (5959 cases) now exceeds the new wave threshold as defined by the Ministerial Advisory Committee”.

Malema said it was so painful to lose elderly people in the first and second wave.

Imagine now when we are going to have to bury kids, he said.

READ: GDE concerned about the rising number of Covid-19 cases at schools in the province

“Our children are going to die. We give the minister seven days to close schools. Failure to do so we will have to close schools ourselves as the EFF because we are not going to allow our children to die. We are not going to allow that.

“Can you imagine now when we are going to have to go and bury kids the way we were burying old people,” said Malema.

Malema said it was becoming clearer now that children are affected by the virus as more and more were testing positive for the virus. 

“Let our children be safe, we will rework the programme the same way we did in the past to get them to cope with this crisis we are confronted with. It is going to be more dangerous, children are sick and children are testing positive,” he said. 

In March last year, when Covid-19 cases were increasing, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the closure of schools.

The first group of learners ended up getting back in class in June while the last group went back in August.

The department of basic education trimmed the curriculum for grades 1 to 11 in order to make up for the time they had lost in class. 

In recent weeks, provinces such as Northern Cape, Free State, the North West and Gauteng announced that more learners are testing positive for the virus in schools compared to teachers.

In the Free State a learner succumbed to the virus. 

READ: “We are at risk. They do not care about us” – Free State Teacher

As Malema made the call, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga was in Limpopo monitoring schools ahead of primary school learners going back to school daily on 26 July as well as all learners in special education needs schools. 

At the press briefing Malema said it must be private schools that must lead the campaign to close schools because they had “power and sometimes even tell the government what to do”. 

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NYAKALLO TEFU|

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated National Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) Gwede Mantashe after he obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy obtained his MBA from the private higher education institution Mancosa (Management College of Southern Africa) on Saturday.

Studying for an MBA requires a lot of discipline, hard work, & ability to stick to time. However, when you achieve your MBA, you don’t feel the length of the journey. It takes courage & it is an important qualification. I encourage young people to study pic.twitter.com/8lpuuIHgXu

— Gwede Mantashe (@GwedeMantashe1) June 5, 2021

“Studying for an MBA requires a lot of discipline, hard work and the ability to stick to time. However, when you achieve your MBA, you do not feel the length of the journey,” said Mantashe.

President Ramaphosa took to Twitter to congratulate Minister Mantashe.

“This demonstrates to us that education remains the most powerful weapon for transforming our future,” said Ramaphosa.

The 65-year-old holds a master’s degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Bachelor of Commerce (Bcom) Degree from the University of South Africa, where he also completed a Bcom Honors.

Ramaphosa said as the ANC national chair, co-chair of the Economic Cluster in Cabinet and Minister, he managed to dedicate time to complete his studies.

“We are proud of you Mqwathi for this academic achievement and we remain inspired by your unwavering commitment to lifelong living,” added Ramaphosa.

It takes courage and it is an important qualification. I encourage young people to study,” added Mantashe.

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The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE)said it is seeking legal advice following the reinstatement of the Parktown Boys High School principal, Malcolm Williams.

Williams was dismissed in December 2020 for his role in the events that led to the death of Grade 8 learner, Enock Mpianzi, during a school outing that was not sanctioned by the department.

The incident led to Williams being charged with three counts of misconduct, two of which were upheld following disciplinary proceedings.

The first allegation was that he unjustifiably prejudiced the administration, discipline, or efficiency of the department by undertaking a school excursion without prior approval.

The second allegation was that he failed to ensure that a correct rollcall for all the pupils who went on the camp was maintained.

READ: Forensic Report into Enock Mpianzi’s Death Finds the Lodge, Parktown Boys’ High Teachers Liable and Negligent

On Wednesday, the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC)ordered that the department allow Williams to commence with his duties.

“The ELRC decided that Mr Williams must be reinstated and reimbursed for the salary he did not receive for the six months that he has not been paid,” said GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona.

Williams is set to receive an amount of R285,594 — equivalent to six months of his salary by July 30.

Williams argued that his dismissal on two counts of alleged misconduct was substantively and procedurally unfair.

Mabona said Gauteng education is disappointed by this decision taken by the ELRC and that, as a department they will seek legal advice on what action to take.

“We are studying the decision and seeking legal counsel on the matter. We are not fully happy with the outcome but also realise that this matter has been dragging for too long, negatively affecting those involved,” said Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi.

READ: MEC Panyaza Lesufi says Gauteng government won’t oppose Enoch Mpianzi R10m lawsuit

The post Gauteng Education to seek legal advice following reinstatement of Parktown Boys principal appeared first on Inside Education.

Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said her department has been resilient and done its best to salvage what was left of the 2020 education calendar despite the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Motshekga said despite budget cuts, the department is determined to bring about a just, equitable and inclusive quality education.

The minister was speaking at the Department of Basic Education’s budget vote debate in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) this week.

Elleck Nchabeleng, Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education said the department has a critical mandate to bring to fruition the developmental state by ensuring that it provides quality education to learners.

Nchabeleng said the department is to this day battling the gap created by the two education systems between the privileged and unprivileged.

He said to address this gap, the department needs to reduce the teacher-learner ratio in schools.

“This has a direct impact on the quality of education, especially in overcrowded township schools,” he said.

Nchabeleng added that the country still has mud schools and schools that lack basic necessary water and sanitation.

“The department must address this as a matter of urgency,” he said.

READ: No New Money For Schools, But SAA’s Rescue Plan Equals Almost A Year’s Worth Of School infrastructure Funding

Economic Freedom Fighters’ Seneanye Lehihi said the divided nature of South Africa’s education system is still cut across racial lines – the white and privileged versus black and under-resourced.

She said the under-resourced schools also suffer from poorly skilled teachers who lack skills in subjects such as maths and science, further disadvantaging black students.

Lehihi added that despite the national department’s efforts, many pupils do not complete their schooling.

“It is estimated that between 500 000 to 1 million school children who start grade R do not make it to matric and are unaccounted for by the department.

“Sadly, they will remain unskilled, unemployed and unemployable, and most of them are black,” she said.

The Democratic Alliance’s Delmaine Christians said children’s rights to safe, clean school facilities have been violated by the decrease in the DBE’s budget.

Christians said this has and will significantly continue to impact the department’s ability to build infrastructure and redress unequal resource allocation between wealthy and poor schools.

She said the budget cuts is inhumane.

“How can a R400 million budget cut on necessary school infrastructure be deemed humane?

“A budget that does not safe guard the lives of the children cannot be deemed humane,” she said.

Inkatha Freedom Party’s Xolani Ngwezi said he did not understand why schools are open when South Africa is fighting the third wave of Covid-19.

“I understand the need for children to get educated and regain the lost time during lock down, but we should not put education before lives,” he said.

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NYAKALLO TEFU| 

133 primary schools Limpopo have been piloted for the Coding and Robotics programme for the 2021/2022 financial year.

This is according to Limpopo Education MEC Polly Boshielo who, at the Department of Basic Education budget vote debate, said the inclusion of Coding and Robotics in the curriculum is important for young people across the country.

“Coding and Robotics are designed to provide learners with knowledge, values and skills needed for the 4th Industrial Revolution,” said Boshielo.

The Limpopo Education Department has embarked on a project to give grades one and eight pupils tablets as part of its e-learning project.

“As a department, we will be offering in-house training courses to 200 targeted educators through the department’s coding club,” said Boshielo.

She said this club is composed of educators who are knowledgeable in this field and will be used as an important resource in rolling out the project.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the dynamics of teaching and learning forcing learners, educators and policy makers to embrace the new normal.

“The pandemic has compelled us to accelerate our efforts towards embracing the 4th Industrial Revolution, access to technology is no longer meant for the privileged few but it is a basic necessity for all,” said Boshielo.

The MEC said R228 million has been set aside for the rollout of e-learning in the province.

“A two-prompt approach will be followed in rolling out the e-learning strategy, the first one is implemented at 106 Maths Science and Technology schools with smart classrooms,” said Boshielo.

Boshielo said the second one will be the provisioning of tablets to learners and laptops to educators in schools in the province.

The post Limpopo schools to begin with Coding and Robotics appeared first on Inside Education.

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Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade said progress at public schools in the province has been delayed by corrupt government officials.

Gade spoke at the Department of Basic Education’s budget vote debate where he highlighted challenges faced by his department when it comes to improving public schools.

“People who are in positions to ensure public schools are taken care of have not done so because of greed and selfishness,” said Gade.

Just last month, five suspects are including former chief education specialist Noxolo Gwarube, former superintendent general Mthunywa Ngonzo, former education deputy director-general Monwabisi Tywakadi, deputy director for IT Tyrone Fourie, and Hermanus Smith, 47, who is the director of Siegesmund Trust appeared in the East London Magistrates court in connection with IT fraud amounting to R59 million.

The five were arrested by members of the Hawks East London Serious Corruption Investigation Team. Their complete list of charges include corruption, fraud, attempted fraud, theft and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). 

READ: Senior Eastern Cape Department of Education officials in court for R59 million IT fraud

Gade said despite these challenges, the province is working towards changing situations in schools especially the ones in rural areas.

“We have 228 projects in various stages of construction. But our construction programme and the built environments economy has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Gade.

Gade said the construction projects will be resuscitated in the current financial year and in 2022.

In April, DBE Minister Angie Motshekga revealed in the provincial infrastructure statistics that majority of schools in the Eastern Cape fail to meet the minimum standards prescribed under the South African Schools Act.

The statistics also revealed that a third of schools in the province had not received textbooks and more than 600 were not led by principals at the start of the first term.

“The public/private partnership can a leverage as an important mechanism for addressing our school infrastructure backlog,” said Gade.

Gade said they will continue to engage with treasury and other relevant government structures, including the private sector and civil society partners in exploring all options to resourcing the rollout of school infrastructure.

READ: DBE and provincial education departments to be held liable for infrastructure backlogs

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NYAKALLO TEFU| 

The former Mbilwi Secondary School teacher accused of rape has been granted of R3000 bail by the Thohoyandou Magistrates court.

Makhuvha Solomon is facing three counts of rape.

A former learner from Mbilwi Secondary opened a case of rape against Makhuvha, saying he raped her several times in 2018.

Makhuva resigned from the school following his arrest on 14 May.

READ: 50-year-old teacher from Mbilwi Secondary School accused of rape

NPA Spokesperson Mashudu Dzangi said Makhuvha has been given strict bail conditions.

“He must not communicate with the victim in any manner, he must not leave Limpopo province without informing the investigating officer and he is to report to Sibasa Correctional Services,” said Dzangi.

The former teacher is set to appear in court again on 16 August 2021.

READ: 50-year-old Limpopo teacher accused of rape has resigned

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NALEDI SHOTA|

Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, says the General Education Certificate (GEC) is scheduled for a roll-out in 2023. 

Motshekga revealed this while delivering her department’s budget vote debate in the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday. 

She said the policy framework for the introduction of the GEC had already been provisionally approved by quality assurer, Umalusi, and that the process is underway to gazette and invite for public comments. 

“A blueprint document on assessment options, linked to career-pathing and future work skills, has been developed.  This blueprint will inform learners, teachers, parents and the system in general about the suitability of learners to undertake an academic, vocational or occupational track in Grades 10-12,” she said. 

The department first spoke of plans to introduce the GEC in 2019 and received a backlash for allowing learners to exit school in grade 9. However, the department did clarify that the GEC was not an exit certificate but would give learners an opportunity to access further training in college, for example, at a level below grade 12. 

Briefing parliament on the GEC in 2019 Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule said the GEC would also assist with the dropout rate. 

“Currently, there is a high dropout rate before Grade 12, peaking in Grades 10 and 11 (15.2% in 2012). Approximately a third of young people aged 15-24 years (3.4 million), are not in employment, education or training (NEET) and 2 million of whom have not finished Grade 12.

“Collectively this points to the need for a standardized assessment and a qualification to usher learners into different pathways at the end of compulsory schooling in the form of the GEC,” said Mhaule at the time. 

In her budget vote speech, Motshekga also said the department was also working at having standardised assessments at grades 3, 6 and 9 and that the standardised assessment system will be piloted in 2022. 

READ: 2021-22 DBE Budget Vote: Minister announces additions to the curriculum

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NALEDI SHOTA|

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has received a R11-million grant to help improve the audit outcomes in the public sector with a special focus in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. 

The grant has been awarded to the university’s school of accounting by the Education, Training and Development sector SETA and the Financial Services SETA, and it will be used to enhance its short learning programme courses and training opportunities for people in the public sector. 

“This grant will allow us to develop the interventions that will assist the TVET colleges in improving their financial management skills, which is expected to improve the audit outcomes subsequently. 

“In this regard, UJ will be providing support to 400 TVET colleges finance personnel. Additionally, those TVET colleges with qualified opinion (qualified report), disclaimer of opinion (disclaimer report), adverse opinion (adverse audit report) will benefit from mentoring,” said UJ’s Professor Tankiso Moloi. 

Presenting the 2019/20 audit outcomes of the 50 TVET colleges in parliament in November the office of the Auditor-General said while there had been improvements in the TVET sector there was still “reliance on auditors to identify errors in financial statements”. 

Business executive in the Auditor-General, Kgabo Komape, told members of the portfolio committee on higher education, science and technology that the submission of financial statements without errors and the quality of financial submission after audit had decreased in that financial year.

READ: Bridging programmes for under-prepared college students

She, however, said there were still areas of concerns. 

“ [They]  include material misstatement in submitted AFS [audited entity financial statements], consequence management, procurement management and strategic planning management.

“There is a lack of discipline on how to execute internal control activities and the risk functions don’t identify the risks to ensure they are mitigated against,”  she said. 

Komape also added that the financial health of colleges such as Motheo and Northern Cape Rural college were dire and that she was not sure they would continue to operate in the future. 

Members of the portfolio committee, at the time, said the presentation was “bleak” and that the governance of TVET colleges was “poor”.

At the time, there were also outstanding audits from the Orbit, Taletso, Tshwane South and Northern Cape Urban colleges.

In the statement, UJ said that from the additional grant from the SETAs, the UJ school of accounting will offer mentorship in public sector accounting, risk management, internal audit and financial controls as well as the supply chain management to relevant TVET College finance professionals.

“This funding helps tremendously in our efforts to also strengthen the digital competencies of our students. Our team is excited to be part of the national efforts to improve financial management in the public sector, specifically in the TVET colleges.

“We hope that the cohort of students from these programmes will go all the way to improve their respective systems of financial management and governance, which we hope will result in the decline in unauthorised expenditure, irregular expenditure, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure,” said Moloi.

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NYAKALLO TEFU| 

Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande has distanced himself from a Facebook page operating using his identity and soliciting money from people.

The page where the name and surname of the 63-year-old minister is used, urges people to send money to support a “worthy course of student funding”.

“It is unfortunate that we have individuals who go to the extent of masquerading as a Minister to defraud members of the public, using the genuine plight of students,” said Nzimande.

Nzimande called on the social media platform, Facebook, to investigate the page that has been using his name.

Adding that all other social media pages bearing his name are fake.

“The only social media pages that might be regarded as authentic are those of the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Department of Science and Innovation,” said Nzimande.

The minister said members of the public must report to the police if they suspect or might have already been scammed by this fraudster.

“I am aware of the essential role played by social media for effective and responsive communication, and I am committed to continue to engage with the public through genuine and credible social media platforms,” said Nzimande.

According to ZeroFOX – a platform that identifies and remediates targeted phishing attacks – credential compromise and brand hijacking have increased the opportunity for hackers looking to target high-profile accounts. This has especially been the case since the Covid-19 global outbreak at end 2019.

ZeroFOX said threat activity has greatly increased in April 2020, and then again in June 2020, likely linked to new work habits and a shift to fully digital communications.

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