TO PRINCIPAL / GOVERNING BODY CHAIR
NEWSLETTER 10/2010
ORGANISATIONAL MATTERS
Members are reminded that as newsletters are sent out they are posted on
the GBF website. It is therefore possible for members to access back
numbers. The latest alphabetical index of newsletters appears on the
website. The National Office continues to load onto the website a selection
of documents relevant to school governance as soon as electronic versions
are available. Members should not hesitate to request that the GBF sources
and places on the website any documents they believe to be useful or
relevant.
Members will know that the Government has identified 12 outcomes as its top
priorities and required the relevant Ministers to sign service delivery
agreements with the President in which they undertake to deliver on these
outcomes. The first of the 12 outcomes identified in this way is the
improvement of the quality of basic education. On 29 October the Minister of
Basic Education therefore signed the service delivery agreement in basic
education along with other relevant role-players. The full text of this
agreement is available on the Foundation website. Part of this newsletter is
devoted to alerting SGBs to certain implications of this service commitment.
In case members are not yet aware of the rebuilt website, an earlier
notification is repeated below to ensure that they are able to gain access to
this valuable resource.
We take pleasure in announcing the availability of our new,
rebuilt website. If you have not yet registered, please do so
now – www.gbf.org.za
ADMINISTRATION – HESTER GREEN
TELEPHONE: 087 808 5669 CELL: 082 779 4560
FAX: 086 578 0045
POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 6369, Cresta, 2118
E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.gbf.org.za
FINANCE – MIKE KESSEL
CELL: 083 375 1066
FAX: (028) 313 0715
POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 1811, Hermanus, 7200
E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB:
www.gbf.org.za
Visit the new site and take a few minutes to complete the
Application Form in order to gain access to the site.
The new website is live, and replaces the old site. Access to
documents is provided free of charge for existing GBF
members. However, registration and administration approval
is required. Successful registration ensures access to all
documents on the website.
Members are encouraged to visit the site regularly and to request the
Foundation to locate any documents which do not appear there but which
would be of use to SGBs.
CURRICULUM MATTERS
1. FINALISED CAPS
Previous newsletters have contained details of progress with the development
of the new Curriculum Assessment and Policy Documents [referred to as
CAPS] designed to encapsulate a range of curriculum policies – as well as to
clarify and simplify certain features of the NCS. The draft CAPS were
published for comment earlier this year and were due to be finalised in the
light of the comments received.
For some time there have been concerns in education circles that the
implementation of the new documents would be rushed and that too much
would be attempted in a short time. The final decision on this process was
taken at the CEM meeting of 19 November and has been communicated in
various ways to various role-player organisations.
In essence the
implementation process accepted is as follows:
YEAR
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
2011 Preparation of system
 CAPS workshops for officials, principals and districts;
 public seminars and briefings
 implementation and use of workbooks Grades 1 – 6;
 teacher orientation and training;
 textbook preparation and procurement
2012 Foundation Phase and Grade 10
2013 Grades 4 to 9 and Grade 11
2014 Grade 12
2
At a more detailed level, the various activities and their deadlines are set out
below:
ACTIVITY
Completion of CAPS
Finalisation of curriculum related documents
Translation, printing, distribution of CAPS
Distribution of language and mathematics
workbooks for Grades R to 6
Development, procurement of textbooks
Orientation of teachers, officials
Train FP teachers in FAL
Communication of implementation plan to
public
DEADLINE
31 December 2010
31 January 2011
30 April 2011
31 January 2011
October 2010 to June 2012
On-going
2011
On-going
Apart from the obvious professional management implications for the
Principals of member schools it is highly likely that the implementation will
require financial support from school budgets even if this support is
limited to the procurement of new and additional learning support
material only. Members are advised to start to plan accordingly.
The GBF was always aware of the pressure to implement these initiatives as
quickly as possible and has therefore consistently argued for a more extended
timetable. It is gratifying to see that education common sense has prevailed.
2. WORKBOOKS
The workbooks promised for Grade R to Grade 6 are due to be delivered to
schools as follows:
 Book one – January 2011
 Book two – March 2011
The work books are being piloted in a selection of 44 schools in different
provinces and differing education contexts.
MINISTERIAL DELIVERY AGREEMENT
Members are encouraged to read the full delivery agreement now available on
the Foundation’s website in order to get an overall picture of what this
agreement undertakes to deliver. This information will serve to alert SGBs to
a number of things, as follows:




What will be expected of the schools which they govern
What organisational and planning steps may be necessary
What human resource implications may arise
What budgetary needs may have to be met
3
The agreement defines itself as follows:
This Delivery Agreement is a negotiated charter which reflects the commitment of the
key partners involved in the direct delivery process to working together to undertake
activities effectively and on time to produce the mutually agreed-upon outputs which
in turn will contribute to achieving outcome 1, ‘improved quality of basic education’
Although SGB Organisations were not invited to sign the delivery agreement
they are clearly identified in the document as important stakeholders without
whose co-operation and support the objectives will not easily be met. In fact
the SGB Organisations are described as representing the key clients of the
system – the parents.
The four outputs listed as being key to the improvement of the quality of basic
education are:




Improve quality of teaching and learning
Undertake regular assessment to track progress
Improve Early Childhood Development
Ensure a credible outcomes-focussed planning and accountability
system
Members are advised to consider the contents of the four outputs above and
to study the 27 goals and the 38 indicators listed as indicating whether these
outputs are being achieved or not. In themselves these form a useful
checklist for schools.
Given the crucial role that SGBs have in managing and raising the financial
resources of schools it would be prudent to identify those aspects of the
delivery agreement which could have financial implications for schools.
ANNUAL NATIONAL ASSESSMENTS
Schools will find the Grade 3 and Grade 6 exemplars for the language
component of the Annual National Assessments to be introduced in 2011 on
the DBE website.
THANKS AND GOOD WISHES
As this is the last newsletter of the year, the Foundation would like to thank all
its members, their governors and staff for the outstanding service they have
continued to render to schools in the interests of their learners. 2010 has not
been an easy year. Despite this, SGBs have continued to work with vigour
and enthusiasm. Please accept the sincere thanks of the Foundation.
Our thanks also to all the office–bearers of the GBF and to the various
Executive Officers. They have all done outstanding work.
NTIONAL OFFICE
DECEMBER 2010
4
GBF CONTACT INFORMATION.
A. EASTERN CAPE
CHAPTER OFFICE
Contact:
Ray Riggien
TEL/FAX:
041 583 2458
CELL:
083 627 4666
Email:
[email protected]
B. GAUTENG, FREE STATE, MPUMALANGA, LIMPOPO, AND NORTH
WEST CHAPTER OFFICE
Contact:
Roger Millson.
TEL/FAX:
011 678 0035.
CELL:
082 330 6565.
Email:
[email protected]
C. KWAZULU-NATAL
CHAPTER OFFICE
Contact:
Trevor Bennison.
TEL/CELL: 084 403 7886
FAX:
031 561 3080.
Email:
[email protected]
D. WESTERN AND NORTHERN CAPE
CHAPTER OFFICE
Contact:
Mike Kessel.
TEL/CELL: 083 375 1066.
FAX:
028 313 0715.
Email:
[email protected]
5