Tlou Mashitisho

Education Updates 23/08/2010

2010-08-23T14:38:00.000+02:00

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NATIONAL TEACHERS’ STRIKE BY TEACHER UNIONS

18 August 2010

"We recognise the constitutional right of all workers, including teachers, to strike. This is a protected strike and teachers can freely choose to join the industrial action without fear of dismissal or victimisation by the state. However, we call on all striking teachers who will be exercising their right to strike to respect the rights of those who decide not to join the industrial action."

Media Statement by DPSA: Government signs wage offer

The offer that Government is offering:

- A general salary increase of 7% for the 2010/11 financial year;
- An increase in housing allowance from the current R500 to R700 which amounts to a 0.9% increase; and
- An annual pay progression of 1.5% which 90% of employees qualify.
A MAJOR BLOW TO EDUCATION

A table that summarises salary packages for educators. The table highlights the 40% increase since 2007.
Media Statement: Monies to be deducted with immediate effect

"All teachers who have joined the industrial action will have their salaries docked in the next salary run which for most teachers will be 15 September 2010."

Education Updates 19/08/2010

2010-08-19T17:27:00.000+02:00

Address by Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Blade Nzimande at Western Cape FET Summit on Cross-Sectoral Collaboration in Education and Training Belmot Square Conference Centre; 17 August 2010
The Minister of Higher Education highlights the gap between higher education students and placement in the workplace. He mentions several initiatives by government and various other stakeholders aimed at improving the current situation.

Education updates 16/08/2010

2010-08-16T16:26:00.000+02:00

Address at Inaugural Women’s Legacy Dialogue by Mrs Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, Sandton Sun: 13 August 2010

Our minister gives a brief overview of OBE and its development in South Africa, highlighting challenges and successes.

The Importance of the 1956 Women’s March” by Ms Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education and President of the ANC Women’s League, 8 August 2010
“working together we can do more to advance equal opportunities and progress for all women.”

Media Statement by the Department of Basic Education On Continuing Strike Action

The DoBE condemns the continuing disruption of learning and teaching in the strongest possible terms.

Education Updates 06/08/2010

2010-08-06T18:05:00.003+02:00

Speaking Notes for Council of Education Ministers’ Meeting by Ms Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, Sol Plaatje House: 05 August 2010

"
In our sphere of influence, we have to ensure that swift action is taken so that we do not lose sight of our strategic objectives, particularly with regard to the pressing need to improve outcomes in Grade 12."

Parliamentary Questions: Teacher Absenteeism (PDF, 22.3KB)

On average, 16 days of instructional time is lost by each educator per school calendar year. The one good point from the report indicates that our absentee rate of 8% is closer to high-income countries (3%) than it is to low-income countries (19%).

Parliamentary Questions: IQMS (PDF, 41.5KB)

Is IQMS prevalent in all schools?

What Makes Change Possible?

2010-07-27T10:44:00.000+02:00

I am currently reading a book by Arnold A Griese called "Do You Read Me?: Practical Approaches to Teaching Reading Comprehension". I came across this quote worth sharing.

"What makes change possible, moreover, is that what is mostly wrong with the public schools is due not to venality or indifference or stupidity, but to mindlessness. To be sure, teaching has its share of sadists and clods, of insecure and angry men and women who hate thier students for their openness, their exuberance, their color or their affluence. But by and large, teachers, principals,and superindents are decent, intelligent, and caring people who try to do their best by their lights. If they make a botch of it, and an uncomfortable number do, it is because it simply nevers occurs to more than a handful to ask why they are doing what they are doing - to think seriously or deeply about the purposes or consequences of education."
(Charles E. Silberman. 1971. Crisis in the Classroom. New York:Vintage Books)

The Financial Implications of the Teachers Laptop Initiative for Educators

2010-07-22T20:43:00.000+02:00

On the 7^th June 2010 our Provincial Education Department announced that it will start implementing the Teacher Laptop Initiative with effect from the 1^st April 2010. According to the circular released by the department, the allowance (R130 per month) will be granted to educators who comply with the following requirements, inter alia:-

Employed by the Department of Education (DoE) in terms of the “Employment of Educators Act 1998”;
Appointed on nature of appointment 25 or 27;
Have the following rank codes: 62001, 62002, 62003, 62022, 62032, 62023, 62033, 62024, 62034, 62044, 62054, 62064, 62074, 62084, 62094, 62104, 62114, 62124, 62011, 62021, 61021 and 61022.

The purpose of the allowance is to “assist the educator in their learning and teaching experience as well as the administration of their learning and teaching.” (Government Gazette 32207:10)

I had a look at the financial implications of the TLI for educators and decided to share the findings with other teachers.

Firstly, let’s have a look at what the DoE has put on the table for calculating the allowance.

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The Minimum Specification in Schedule A (Government Gazette 32207:7)

Requirements	R
Hardware (probably a netbook)	4,000
Software (discounted)	350
Insurance	1,200
Internet Connectivity (min. 500MB)	6,000
TOTAL	11,550

Caption: Based on Government Gazette 32207:12

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I would like to highlight an error in calculation. The total was indicated as R11,750 in the gazette. I could not come to the same answer when I recalculated the total.

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Figure 1: The percentage each requirement contributes to the overall cost over 60 months.

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Figure 2: An indication of who will carry the bill. The DoE Allowance will cover 68% of the cost with the allowance and the educator will pay the 32% over the 60 months.

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After looking at the graphs and costs involved, I was quite impressed that the DoE was willing to contribute two-thirds of the overall costs incurred by the educator. I felt this would go a long way in assisting educators change their working conditions.

This changed when I looked at the numbers within a potential scenario. I realised that the DoE is not contributing as much as I had initially thought. In fact, the educator may pay as much as 60% (may be more) of the overall cost even with the allowance. Here are the findings.

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The Minimum Specification in Schedule A (Government Gazette 32207:7)

Requirements	R
Hardware (entry level laptop)	4,500
Insurance (estimate: R70 pm)	4,200
Internet Connectivity (ADSL 1GB @ R169 pm)	10,140
TOTAL	18,840

Caption: I have excluded the software costs because I am not sure of the current price of Microsoft Office Enterprise under the current Microsoft Agreement.

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Figure 3: The percentage each requirement contributes to the overall cost over 60 months.

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Figure 4: An indication of who will carry the bill. The DoE Allowance will cover 41% of the cost with the allowance and the educator will pay the 59% over the 60 months.

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I am uncertain of the insurance cost for a laptop but the laptop and internet costs are a true reflection of the current market prices. The current prices are almost double the cost of the base calculation used by the DoE to calculate the allowance. If you divide the overall cost by 60 months the amount per month is equal to R314 as opposed to the DoE’s R192.

In the DoE’s calculations, the educator pays in R60 per month (R192-R130) whereas in my findings the educator could end up paying R184 per month (R314-R130). Remember, I have excluded the cost of the mandatory software and may have underestimated the monthly cost of laptop insurance which is also mandatory.

In conclusion, the TLI may help jump start the adoption of laptop usage amongst educators and that is a move in the right direction. Remember, the DoE did not offer this sort of financial assistance in the past. However, it is important that educators are aware of the potential costs (not controlled by the DoE) that may be incurred by choosing to own a laptop and exercise the necessary prudence to ensure that the technology they would like to adopt does not become a financial burden.

Bursary Opportunities

2010-07-19T16:11:00.000+02:00

In case you know of anyone who might be looking for bursaries?

Bursary Application forms available from the following Institutes in the following areas:-

South African Weather Service

National Certificate in Weather Observation
Bachelor of Science in Meteorology
Honours in Meteorology
Honours Bridging programme

De Beers

Mining Engineering
Metalluergy (Extractive only)
Electrical Engineering (Heavy current only)
Mechanical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Geology
Commerce - Accounting Major Only (Affirmative action applicants only)

Spoornet

No specifics

Vodacom

Bachelor of Engineering
Bachelor of Science – Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Bachelor of Commerce
N.D. Computer Engineering
N.D. Electrical Engineerinf
N.D. Information Technology
N.D. Financial Info Systems
N.D. Accounting

South African Institute of Race Relations

No specifics

Old Mutual

Accounting

Note: Check each company's website for the relevant forms.