part a: strategic overview - Department of Education

In its quest to deliver exemplary service to all its clients – both internal and external – the
Department of Education, like all other departments within the public sector, is
continuously striving to inculcate the principles of Batho Pele (People First) into the
thinking of staff and to ensure that it becomes an integral part of service delivery.
6.2 Summary of Organisational Environment and Challenges
In 2005 the Department again reviewed its organizational structure in order to ensure
alignment with the new five-year Departmental Strategic Plan. A revised organogram
was approved by the MEC in January 2006, and is in the process of being implemented.
This will strengthen delivery capacity in the Districts and Head Office.
Due to budgetary constraints and lengthy administrative processes many senior
management posts have only been filled from 1 June 2005, including senior managers
to support the FET College Chief Executive Officers. This will be followed by Deputy and
Assistant Director, Chief and Deputy Education Specialist, Curriculum Advisor, Secretary
and other administrative posts.
The Department has absorbed surplus staff from Teacher Training Colleges into existing
vacancies.
7. LEGISLATIVE AND OTHER MANDATES
7.1 General Mandate of the Department
The broad mandate of the Department is to provide for basic education in the Province
and to adopt reasonable measures to progressively provide access to further education.
At national level this mandate is governed primarily by:
� The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, 1996 (Act No. 108 of
1996) which provides for the constitutional right to education;
� The National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No. 27 of 1996) which provides for
the determination of national education policy by the Minister of Education;
� The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) which caters for the
needs of those learners who are located in schools within the compulsory band;
� The Further Education and Training Act, 1998 (Act No. 98 of 1998) which
focuses on the needs of those learners who wish to pursue ongoing learning
activities;
� The Adult Basic Education and Training Act, 200 (Act No. 52 of 2000), which
promotes lifelong learning through the provision of continuous learning activities for
adults;
� The Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (Act No. 76 of 1998) and the Public
Service Act, 1994 (Proclamation No. 103 of 1994), which determine the conditions
of service, discipline, retirement and discharge of educators and administrative staff
in the Province; and
� The General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, 2001
(Act No. 58 of 2001), which provides for quality assurance in general and further
education and training, norms and standards for curriculum and assessment and the
issuing of certificates at exit points from the general and further education bands of
the National Qualifications Framework established under the South African
Qualifications Authority Act, 1995 (Act No. 58 of 1995).
5 Year ECDoE Strategic Plan for 2005/06 2005-06 to 2009/10 2009-10. March 21 F (6) 2006 Page 5
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