Annual Report 2006/2007 - Department of Education

foreword BY THE MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
The Department commissioned the compilation of a 10-year strategic framework called, A Transformation Agenda for the
Eastern Cape Department of Education 2005-2014. The Transformation Agenda outlines and seeks to foster an in-depth
understanding of the circumstances which have defined the course of the Department over the last 13 years, and the
challenges which must be overcome if its transformation agenda for the eight years up to 2014 is to be realized.
The Annual Performance Plan for 2006/07 to 2008/09 is also an expression of our commitment to align our programmes
to the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP) priorities, in particular to address skills shortages in Government,
restructure the educational programmes of Further Education and Training (FET), Adult Basic Education and Training
(ABET), Early Childhood Development (ECD) and evolve a comprehensive Human Resource Development (HRD) strategy
through learnership programmes. By now it is a well known fact that the most serious threat to the sustainable growth
and development of our economy in the Province is the skills barrier. My Department is serious about undertaking key
development programmes in order to empower people with knowledge and skills for the growing economy as required
by the Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA).
Hon J Makgato
MEC: EDUCATION
Over and above the Provincial priorities, the Department’s Strategic and Annual Performance Plans reflect the priorities set by
the National Department of Education. The plan further outlines our strategy to turn this Department into an organization
capable of delivering quality services in a manner that is well-timed, relevant and responsive to the developmental needs of
the Province and the country in general. The Department is committed to rolling out its service delivery model articulated
in previous plans by establishing adequately resourced and capacitated District Offices.
During the academic year 2006, the improvement in the matriculation results from 56.7% in 2005 to 59.3% was as a
result of an intensive learner attainment strategy focusing on underperforming schools with the aim of increasing the pass
rate by 5% year on year until the national average pass rate is reached. The fluctuating and below average performance
in the matriculation examinations in the Eastern Cape can no longer be justified in the light of urgently needed human
capital development in our Province.
The FET Colleges, of which there are 8, with a total of 31 campus sites, play a vital role in the development of technical and
vocational skills required to support our developing economy. The introduction of a recapitalisation programme in the year
under review has contributed greatly to the growth of this sector. The ABET sector remains key in the improvement of adult
literacy in order to meet the PGDP target of improving literacy by 50% by the year 2014. Up to 50% of the population
of our province can be considered illiterate. The Provincial Literacy Programme has been implemented in order to achieve
our 2014 target. Despite this intervention, the literacy rate still remains high and a rigorous social mobilization strategy is
being implemented in order to publicize the need for illiteracy eradication at community levels.
Department of Education Annual Report 2006/07