Cabinet Bulletin- November 2011 - Gauteng Online

Education department identifies school readiness indicatorsTo ensure that schools re-open withoutany major problems in January2012, the Gauteng Department ofEducation has adopted a new approachto monitoring schools readiness.School readiness indicators have beenidentified to assist in this process.These include the admission of learners,procurement and delivery of stationeryand textbooks, emergency repairsto schools, the provision of teachingpersonnel and furniture and academicpreparedness and school nutrition.To ensure that this is done, visits to asample of schools were undertaken byall senior managers in the departmentbetween 24 and 26 October 2011.In recognition of the challenge of thetransition from primary to high school, theDepartment will next year run orientationprogrammes for Grade 8 learners andprovide each learner with a survivalguide to high school.The Department has also noted thatlearner registration and the placement ofexcess learners had been completed atthe end of November.In addition, Exco members will visit schoolsin January to send a clear message thatthe Gauteng Provincial Government iscommitted to making education a priorityand ensure that learning takes placewithout any disturbances.The three schools to be visited will beselected as follows:• one school is implementing the catchupprogramme;• the other is using the patrollers, and;• the last one is offering the homeworkprogramme.The schools will cover all fifteen districts inthe Province.Gauteng to honour military veterans on Day of ReconciliationOn December 16, the provincialgovernment, in partnership with theFreedom Park Trust and the South AfricanMilitary Veterans Association, willcommemorate the Day of Reconciliation.During the celebrations, 152 fallen and100 living veterans who sacrificed theirlives for freedom will be honoured on theday.The day also aims to raise awarenessand patriotism amongst citizens ofGauteng and mobilise local communitiesto interact with veterans.This year the day will be celebratedunder theme: “Honouring our MilitaryVeterans”.Also on the day, the names of the veteranswill be unveiled at the Freedom Parkto assist in fast-tracking the inscriptionof the names of those deserving to behonoured on the Wall of Remembrancefor their contribution to the liberation ofthe country.2cabinet bulletin | Cabinet Decisions | November Issue 2011