part a: strategic overview - Department of Education

establishment had been largely completed by 2001. In the four years that had elapsed
changing demographics, especially from migration, and the closure and opening of schools
had created new post requirements. A moratorium on new temporary and substitute teachers
during the financial crisis had also limited flexibility to provide teachers where needed. In 2003
there were close to 65 000 teachers in schools in the province. The Department of Education
declared an establishment of 67 074, some 2 000 above the numbers in post.
During 2004 and the growing environment of financial crisis the Department of Education
concluded that this establishment was unaffordable and could not be implemented. The
current 2005 educator post establishment is 63 593. After lengthy dispute with the teacher
unions this establishment was declared by the MEC for Education in the first half of 2005.
Redeployment and transfer is now proceeding against this establishment. The Department of
Education has also stated its intention to produce an annual educator establishment and to
issue annual post bulletins for recruitment against the posts identified as vacant.
Implementation of this establishment will provide both an equitable and affordable provision of
educators throughout the province. Based on 2005 enrolment, implementation of the educator
establishment will give learner; educator ratios of 33.8 in primary school, 34.7 in combined
schools, and 33.0 in secondary schools. This establishment will also lead to a more balanced
distribution of personnel that will allow further recruitment of managers and administrators,
especially in the districts. Some of this recruitment will be by transfer of educators that are
surplus to requirements.
15.5 Information Technology SYSTEMS Systems
15.5.1 Information Technology Administration Systems
The Department uses the main government transversal systems, being Persal, for salary and
personnel administration; the Basic Accounting System (BAS), for commitments, payments
and financial reporting services; and the Logistics System (Logis), for stores management
and the issuing of orders for procurement. These systems are silo systems in that they are
essentially stand alone, although there are interfaces between them. The architecture of
these systems has not changed over the last 30 years and they are not in keeping with the
requirements of an efficient government department. The Department uses the systems fairly
extensively, except for Logis which is only effectively being used at head office and in the
Uitenhage district.
The National Treasury is the owner of these systems and they are continuing with their
Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) strategy that aims to provide integrated
system to provide for transaction processing and management information in the functional
areas of human resource management, supply chain management, and financial
management. This strategy has been in place for at least five years and there is no definite
time frame for the delivery of new systems.
A critical issue is that is limiting the development of systems is the fact that section 17.3.1 of
the Treasury Regulations states that “Institutions may not amend existing or institute new
computerised systems that will affect financial administration without the prior written approval
of the National Treasury.” In implementing this provision the National Treasury is restrictive in
that it rarely approves the use of new systems, due to the development of IFMS. A more
flexible approach to the administration of this regulation is desperately needed to breathe new
life into the ability of departments to ensure that their statutory obligations can be met.
For example, the Department of Education wishes to use the Procure-to-Pay system, which
has been developed by the Department of Social Development, and which has received
international acclaim for innovation. Yet the National Treasury continues to place obstacles in
the path of other departments wishing to use the same system.
The Department is actively involved in procuring a supply chain management system that will
assist with the reporting requirements of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act
5 Year ECDoE Strategic Plan for 2005/06 to 2009/10. March 2006 Page 100
5 Year ECDoE Strategic Plan for 2005-06 to 2009-10. 21 F (5) Page 96
part C: background information