Address at the 16th SAOU School Principal Symposium by Mrs Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, Port Elizabeth

5 Sep 2011

Programme Director
President of South African Teachers' Union (SAOU), Dr Jopie Breed
SAOU members
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me much pleasure to address the 16th SAOU School Principal Symposium. Thank you warmly for inviting us.

On 11 August 2011, I saw a disturbing editorial in The Star, on riots in Britain. The newspaper called it 'a timely riot'. It said the protest was not political. “The rioters had no agenda”.

It blamed the unrest on 'a disaffected criminal fringe made up of people who felt they have no stake in society'. It concluded the burning and looting in the erstwhile colonial empire highlighted 'the dangers posed by economic inequality and a troubled education system.'

Two questions sprung to mind: How does society produce "a disaffected criminal fringe, made up of people who felt they have no stake in society?" and, "does this ring alarm bells for the SAOU Principal Symposium?"

Provincial Department of Education websites - Search for schools

Search these Provincial Education Department websites for public and private schools in South Africa.

Eastern Cape Education Department            http://www.ecdoe.gov.za/schools/
Kwazulu Natal  Education Department         http://www.kzneducation.gov.za/
Gauteng   Education Department                  http://www.education.gpg.gov.za/
Mpumalanga Education Department              http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za/education/
Western Cape Education Department            http://wcedemis.wcape.gov.za/wced/findaschool.html
Northern Cape Education Department          http://premier.ncpg.gov.za/DoE/
North West Province Education Department http://www.nwpg.gov.za/education/Find_School/index.htm 
Limpopo Province Education  Department    http://www.edu.limpopo.gov.za/viewSchools.aspx
Free State Education Department                 http://www.fsdoe.fs.gov.za/SchoolFinder/Schoolfinder.aspx
Department of Basic Education SA               http://www.education.gov.za/ 


Provincial Education Department Contact Details

Eastern Cape	Steve Vukile Tshwete Education Complex, Zone 6, Zwelitsha
	Tel. 040 608 4200 | Web. www.ecdoe.gov.za
Free State	55 Elizabeth Street, FS Provincial Government Building, Bloemfontein
	Tel. 051 404 8000 | Web. www.fsdoe.fs.gov.za
Gauteng	111 Commissioner Street, Johannesburg
	Tel. 011 355 0000 | Web. www.education.gpg.gov.za
KwaZulu-Natal	247 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg
	Tel. 033 846 5000 | Web. www.kzneducation.gov.za
Limpopo	Corner 113 Biccard & 24 Excelsior Street, Polokwane
	Tel. 015 290 7611 | Web. www.edu.limpopo.gov.za
Mpumalanga	Building No. 5, Government Boulevard, Riverside Park, Nelspruit
	Tel. 013 766 5000 | Web. www.mpumalanga.gov.za/education
North West	2nd Floor Executive Block, Garona Building, Mmabatho
	Tel. 018 387 3312 | Web. www.nwpg.gov.za/education
Northern Cape	09 Hayston Road, Harrison Park,
	Tel. 053 830 1600 | Web. http://premier.ncpg.gov.za/DoE/
Western Cape	Grand Central Towers, Cnr Darling and Lower Plein Streets, Cape Town
	Tel. 021 467 2000 | Web. http://wced.wcape.gov.za

Public and Private Schools in South Africa

Education in South Africa

South Africa has 12.3-million learners, some 386 600 teachers and 26 292 schools, including 1 098 registered independent or private schools. Of all schools, roughly 6 000 are high schools (grade 7 to grade 12) and the rest primary (grade 0 to grade 6).
In government-funded public schools, the average ratio of scholars (known as "learners" in terms of the country's outcomes-based education system) to teachers ("educators") is 32.6 to one, while private schools generally have one teacher for every 17.5 scholars.

The national Department of Education is responsible for education across the country as a whole, while each of the nine provinces has its own education department.

The central government provides a national framework for school policy, but administrative responsibility lies with the provinces. Power is further devolved to grassroots level via elected school governing bodies, which have a significant say in the running of their schools. 

south african school contact details

Searching for Schools?

Moving to a new area? Thinking about transferring your child to a new school? Considering a single-sex boys or girls school, boarding school or private school for your child? As a parent, it can be quite a challenge to wade through the mountains of data online trying to find a school in South Africa. Look no further! Schoolguide has combined it all in one place - now you can Search, Compare & Review schools.

http://www.schoolguide.co.za/

Teacher development a ‘collaborative effort’

Any efforts aimed at improving teacher education and development would only be successful if it were a collaborative effort by South Africa’s education stakeholders.

This was the overwhelming message that emerged at the launch of the Integrated Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Education and Development in South Africa, in Pretoria on Tuesday.

The framework outlines a 15-year roll-out of improved and expanded teacher education and development opportunities with the aim of improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools. It is a collaborative effort of the DBE; the Department of Higher Education and Training; teacher unions; the Education Labour Relations Council; the South African Council for Educators; the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority and the Higher Education South African Education Deans’ Forum.

Addressing the launch, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said that the competence levels of teachers in subject knowledge and teaching skills is a key variable in the improvement of the schooling system. 

“The Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Education and Development will help address many of the challenges and quality issues plagueing the education system,” said Minister Motshekga. “How you all engage with the framework will go a long way in giving South Africa an effective teacher development plan for a top schooling system.”