PLANS are afoot to inject new blood into the teaching profession in Limpopo province through a concerted recruitment drive targeting qualified educators under 30 years old.
The Department of Education was allocated a total of R40.029 billion for the 2024/5 financial year. The province has made remarkable strides which includes a marked improvement in the province’s matric results. Limpopo, which came seventh overall with a 79.5% pass rate in the 2023 NSC results, was announced as the best improved province with a 7.4% improvement from 2022. In a move that is set to maintain its upward trend MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya said the department has prioritised its drive to recruit and replenish the system with young new entrants to the profession.
“The recruitment of educators who are 30 years and below remains our priority. The Limpopo Department, Funza Lushaka and NSFAS Bursary scheme continue to be an impactful pipeline for the supply of educators for scarce skills subjects,” Lerule-Ramkhanya said during the department’s budget vote speech in Polokwane.
“For the past 10 years, the Limpopo Department of Education has been one of the best performing provinces in the appointment of the Funza Lushaka Bursary graduates. The province managed to appoint 4 622 bursary holders. In the 2023/24 financial year 429 bursary holders were appointed in our schools,” she said.
Lerule-Ramakhanya said in the 2023/24 financial year, the department appointed overall 1 622 teachers who are 30 years and below, an increase of 247 educators compared to the previous financial year.
Minister of Basic Education Dr Angie Motshekga revealed in a speech during Teacher’s Month in 2023 that Limpopo boasts one of the highest placement rates at 94%. She said of 4 623 educators, 4 347 have been placed, leaving a mere 276 unplaced.
Reduction in the number of under-performing schools
Lerule-Ramakhanya said one of the province’s achievements in the past financial year has been the marked increase in the reduction of under-performing schools.
She said the department managed to reduce the number of under-performing schools from 440 in 2022 to 310 in 2023, which translates to a reduction of 130 under-performing schools.
“It is worth noting that within the 310 under-performing schools, there are 114 newly under-performed schools, meaning that only 196 out of 440 had under-performed. The Department will continue to support all schools so that we can sustain the gains made in 2023,” Lerule-Ramakhanya said.
“The release of 2023 National Senior Certificate results provided context in which the class of 2021 wrote the National Senior Certificate examinations. Over the years, our education system has demonstrated resilience and determination in the face of numerous challenges.
She said through concerted efforts and strategic interventions Limpopo has witnessed a significant surge in the academic achievement of learners across the system.
“We are seeing a significant improvement across all grades and this will definitely ensure that our matric pass rate does not decline,” Lerule-Ramakhanya said.
She said in the past financial year there were 32 under-performing circuits which have now been reduced to 19.
“The Department has plans to strengthen and internalise the Rapid intervention plan to all 19 circuits in the 10 districts that are still performing below 70%,” Lerule-Ramakhanya said.
In the past the province experienced a high rate of vacant positions which impacted on the management of schools but Lerule-Ramakhanya said this has now bee addressed.
“She said the department has since appointed 200 principals, 53 deputy principals and 141 departmental heads in the year under review.
Furthermore the department the Limpopo Provincial Treasury has approved the filling of 2 550 promotion posts in schools, 506 principals, 400 deputy principals and 1 644 departmental heads.
“This will assist in reducing the vacancy rate and strengthen the management of schools. The appointments will come into effect from 1 April 2024, as part of the recruitment for the 2024/25 financial year,” she said.
Lerule-Ramakhanya added that in the second quarter of the 2023/24 financial year, the department conducted workshops across all districts to newly appointed school principals of public schools on the management of school finances and applicable legislative frameworks in the school governance setting.
She said for the 2024/2025 financial year the Department has allocated an amount of R2,7 billion as part of norms and standards for school funding for public ordinary schools, R 108,million for special schools and R167,million for independent schools.
Early Childhood Development remains top priority
Lerule-Ramakhanya also revealed that Early Childhood Development (ECD) remains a top education priority for this year. She said a total of 129 784 children were enrolled for early childhood development education during the 2023 academic year. She said the children were accommodated at 3 936 ECD centres located across Limpopo.
The PEIR is aimed at informing planning and programming to help ensure all young children in SA receive a comprehensive package of integrated ECD services to build the foundations to thrive later in life. Lerule-Ramakhanya highlighted the significant strides made in capacitating the ECD programme with qualified educators. “A total of 768 ECD Practitioners successfully completed a training programme on parenting,” she said.
Lerule-Ramakhanya noted that a further 2312 practitioners were trained on jamboree/norms and standards whose main purpose was to capacitate participants on ECD norms and standards in order to increase compliance amongst ECD centres. – news@mukurukuru.co.za
