Press Statement dated 5 November 2018
“Surely one can expect top government employees – and the MEC for Education no doubt falls within this group – to be capable of competent, long-term strategic planning. “
This was the exasperated response of the CEO of the South African Teachers’ Union (SAOU), Chris Klopper to yet another report on the number of learners in Gauteng not being placed in schools for the 2019 academic year.
Education MEC Lesufi’s reported response was that on his limited budget he was able to build only 54 new schools in the past four years. This number came as a surprise given that it contradicts a previously reported 10 schools having been built.
Which report is accurate or will the number of built new schools rise as the elections draw closer?
“A further set of questions need to be respectfully posed:
1. Are all 54 schools new schools or are some refurbished/repurposed existing schools?
2. Where are the schools situated, that is, are they in the geographic areas where the needs are greatest and, what is their capacity?
3. How much of the final cost of the building of the claimed new schools was spent on equipping them with teaching/learning facilities which will remain in their original packaging because the educators have not been empowered to use them properly or because there is not money to ensure required connectivity?
And a final, equally respectful question: Is the GDE focusing on schools around the province that in fact genuinely have space – in other words, has the MEC done his homework properly – or is this whole on-going debacle simply, one more opportunity for populist politicking?
We desperately want to believe in the integrity of the education management of the province, but the on-going bungling of what should be routine ‘top-drawer’ strategic planning followed by less than effective smooth-talking and blame-shifting, to say nothing of political double-speak, in response after response from the MEC, makes it difficult to be optimistic about the delivery of any education let alone quality education. It really is time to step up to the plate and serve your constituents competently, Mr MEC,” Klopper concluded.
Issued by Chris Klopper, CEO, South African Teachers’ Union (SAOU)