Education Annual Report 2002-2003 - Gauteng Online

DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEWgovernmental organizations and community-based organizations; and the development of customer care that is sensitiveto issues of race, gender and disability.The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (Act No. 3 of 2000)The Department recognizes that it has to promote the provision that everyone has the right to administrative action thatis lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair, and that everyone whose rights have been adversely affected by administrativeaction must be given written reasons for administrative action. In this regard, the Department has set out on an advocacyprogramme to bring to the attention of its beneficiaries that they should report any breakdown in services by first applyingto the Department and then to the Public Protector. The advocacy campaign stipulates that safety should be maintained atall institutions by locking gates during school hours and that learners be supervised during sports and cultural activities.Beneficiaries are also invited to report defects with infrastructure and classroom furniture. Breakdowns in safety andhygienic conditions at schools should also be reported. Conditions around overcrowding, the timeous filling of vacanciesand the pledge to have an educator available for all subjects in all learning areas also form part of the advocacy programmeto promote the Administrative Justice Act.2.6 Strengthening Accountability2.6.1 StakeholdersThe Department works closely with the following stakeholders:• Gauteng Education and Training Council (GETC). This is an advisory body to the Member of theExecutive Council (MEC) for Education in Gauteng. This Council has advised the Member of the ExecutiveCouncil on all Proposed policy, legislation and regulation pertaining to education and training in this Provincesince its inception in February 1997. The council has also advised the MEC on numerous national policy andlegislative proposals and discussion documents.The Council represents a wide range of civil society organisations, each with its own perspective of howeducation and training should be legislated, regulated and administered. By bringing these civil societyorganisations together in open debate, civil society formations are able to debate proposals and initiatives andformulate suggestions to the Member of the Executive Council on legislation, regulation and policy issues.The Council, therefore, is a conduit through which the Member of the Executive Council for Education inGauteng is able to access public opinion and through which organizations in civil society can advise theMember of the Executive Council. Thus the Council has contributed very positively to the shaping oflegislation, regulations and policy for the Province and has added value to the work of the Department.• District Education and Training Councils will be advisory bodies to the District Managers. The MEC willestablish DETCs in respect of each education district in the province. On their own initiative or at therequest of the MEC, or the District Manager, DETCs can investigate and consider matters relating toeducation in general and in the education district in particular and report on its findings to the relevantperson or body. The DETCs can on own initiative or upon the request of their district managers makerecommendations to the district managers on matters regarding education in the education districtsand perform any other function as may be assigned or delegated to it in terms of the GautengEducation Policy Act or any other law.GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNUAL REPORT 2002/0310