part a: strategic overview - Department of Education

12. INTRODUCTION
PART C: BACKGROUND INFORMATION
While Section 3 of the plan presents details on each sub-programme and highlights where
strategic objectives are placed both budget-wise and organizationally, Part C of the Strategic
Plan document is intended to provide the essential details about the background information
upon which the plan is based. The purpose of this section of the document is to further
contextualize the goals and objectives of the plan, to highlight the circumstances and issues
from which planned priorities were derived, and to present the essential boundaries of activity
within which the Department will operate in implementing the plan. This section of the plan is
important both as a backdrop which gives meaning to the activities to be undertaken and as a
guide which seeks to inform officials and stakeholders about the best way to manoeuvre
among the activities and complexities which will define scope and context of delivery.
This section of the plan is therefore divided into two main sections and several sub-sections.
The sections and sub-sections are outlined below.
13. ANALYSIS OF THE SERVICE DELIVERY ENVIRONMENT
o Policy Changes and Trends
o Environmental factors and emerging challenges
o Demographic Profile of the Eastern Cape
o Social Economic Deprivation in Eastern Cape Communities
o Analysis of the Educational System
o Demographic pressures and access issues
o Educational profiles of people
o Transfers to Institutions
o The state of Public Ordinary Schools education
o Independent Schools
o LSEN Schools
o FET
o ABET
13.1 Policy Changes and Trends
With the increased use of computer technology in more and more aspects of life, government
recognized the need to pass legislation that would provide the framework for regulating
electronic communications, such as email, and establish the legality of electronic business
transactions. The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (Act 25 of 2002)
(ECT) provides for the facilitation and regulation of electronic communications and
transactions; the development of a national e-strategy; universal access to electronic
communications and transactions; human resource development in electronic transactions;
the prevention of abuse of information systems; and to encourage the use of e-government
services.
This is an important act for educational institutions seen against the requirement to provide
access to and training in the use of computers and to enable people to make the transition
into the world of the Internet and other computer-based work methods.
The e-Education Draft White Paper of the National Department of Education was published
in August 2003. It has the overall policy goal that ‘Every South African learner in the general
and further education and training bands will be “ICT capable” that is, use Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) confidently and creatively by 2013.
The relevant policy imperatives are set out under six strategic objectives:
5 Year ECDoE Strategic Plan for 2005/06 2005-06 to 2009/10 2009-10. March 21 F (3) 2006 Page 53
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