PC Basic Education: Outstanding Committee Reports: consideration and adoption

Meeting report

Opening Remarks
The Chairperson informed Members that there were several outstanding minutes and reports that need to be considered and that these needed to be finalised in that meeting.

Mr D Smiles (DA) stated that the National Development Plan (NDP) should be put on the agenda of the next Committee meeting because it was an important matter of public interest and education was one of the line areas.

Ms N Gina (ANC) agreed with Mr Smiles. The Committee needed to consider the NDP and even task the researchers to study parts of the document that affected education so that it could be easier for the Committee to deal with the document.

The Chairperson said that the Committee had to benchmark itself with the NDP document specifically on education because it was an important document.

Committee Minutes dated 8 May 2012
The Chairperson tabled the minutes for consideration. She highlighted that in that meeting the Committee had considered and adopted the draft report on oversight visit to Ohlange Senior Secondary. It also considered and adopted the draft minutes of 6, 13 and 20 March 2012, and 17, 18, 19 and 24 April 2012.

Ms Gina moved for the adoption of minutes.

Ms A Lovemore (DA) seconded the motion.

The Committee adopted the minutes.

Committee Minutes dated 15 May 2012
The Chairperson tabled the minutes for consideration. She highlighted that in that meeting the Committee had considered and adopted its Report on Budget Vote 15: Basic Education. It also heard a briefing on roles and responsibilities regarding Teacher Development - inputs from the Department of Basic Education (DBE), South African Council for Educators (SACE), and Education labour Relations Council (ELRC).
Ms C Mashishi (ANC) moved for the adoption of minutes.

Ms Gina supported the motion.

The Committee adopted the minutes.

Committee Minutes dated 22 May 2012
The Chairperson tabled the minutes for consideration. She highlighted that in that meeting the Committee was briefed on the roles and responsibilities of the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit (NEEDU) and the Planning and Delivery Oversight Unit (PDOU).

Mr Smiles moved for adoption of the minutes.

Mr C Moni (ANC) seconded the motion.

The Committee adopted the minutes.

Committee Minutes dated 29 May 2012
The Chairperson tabled the minutes for consideration. She highlighted that in that meeting the Committee was briefed by DBE and the Department of Sport and Recreation on a progress made with School Sports League.

Mr Moni moved for adoption of the minutes.

Ms F Mushwana (ANC) supported the motion.

The Committee adopted the minutes.

Committee Minutes dated 12 June 2012
The Chairperson tabled the minutes for consideration. She highlighted that in that meeting the Committee was briefed by DBE on its Fourth Quarter Expenditure Report for 2011/12.

Ms Lovemore moved for the adoption.

Ms Gina supported the motion.

The Committee adopted the minutes.

Committee Minutes dated 7 August 2012
The Chairperson tabled the minutes for consideration. She highlighted that in that meeting the Committee was briefed by DBE on Annual National Assessment (ANA) Readiness; CAPS Regulations; and the Limpopo Catch-up Plan.

Ms Mushwana moved for the adoption.

Ms Mashishi seconded the motion.

The Committee adopted the minutes.

Committee Minutes dated 14 August 2012
The Chairperson tabled the minutes for consideration. She highlighted that in that meeting the Committee was briefed by DBE on the Limpopo Catch-up Plan.

Ms Lovemore moved for the adoption.

Ms Mashishi seconded the motion.

The Committee adopted the minutes.

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education dated 17 August 2012, on Oversight Visit to Northern Cape Areas, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape from 19-20 June 2012
The Chairperson tabled the report for consideration.
The Chairperson noted that the Committee had visited the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape after receiving information about problems being experienced at schools in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. These included the possible closure of schools and protest action by members of the community. It was important that the Committee meet with relevant stakeholders in the affected areas so as to make evaluation, monitoring and oversight, and give the necessary support and advice in dealing with the challenges.

The Chairperson stated that as a recommendation it was agreed that the Department wood look into all concerns identified and have them resolved in 10 days of the date of the oversight.

Mr Smiley said it was crucial that the timeframe of the 17 August 2012 court order for the payment of temporary teachers was considered.

The Chairperson emphasised that they checked whether temporary teachers were being paid. The teacher unions should also give a report to the Committee.

Ms Lovemore suggested that the Committee should invite Section 27 and other relevant stakeholders to brief the Committee on their side of the story. They needed to ask them why it was necessary to go to court.

Mr Moni said that the Committee should receive an update of all court cases.

The Committee adopted the report.

Report on Joint Oversight Visit to Mthatha and Libode, Eastern Cape
The Chairperson tabled the report for consideration.

The Portfolio Committee had received an invitation from the Standing Committee on Appropriations to join them during their oversight visit to the Eastern Cape. The objective of the visit was to identify sites for the Accelerated School infrastructure Delivery initiative (ASIDI) programme.

The Chairperson noted that the Committee had recommended that the Minister of Basic Education should ensure that the Department submitted a report on the envisaged cost escalations that would arise as a result of the shifting of the completion date for construction of 49 schools in the Eastern Cape Province as part of ASIDI. In this report, the Department should indicate whether provisions were made in tenders for the payment of penalties in the event of delays that came as a result of non performance.

The Committee adopted the report.

Report on Oversight Visit to Polokwane, Limpopo Province, from 4-5 July 2012
The Chairperson noted that the Committee conducted the oversight visit following numerous reports in the media on the issue surrounding the delivery of workbooks and textbooks to schools in the Province. There were a number of recommendations made by the Committee which included the need to develop legislation to regulate the implementation of section 100 (1) (b) according to 100 (3) of the Constitution.

The Committee adopted the report.

Strategic Plan of the Portfolio Committee of Basic Education 2012/13
The Chairperson requested the Content Adviser to take the Committee through the strategic plan.

Mr Dennis Bandi, Content Adviser, read through the strategic plan page by page with no objections from Members of the Committee.

The Committee adopted the strategic plan.

Draft Operational Plan of the Portfolio Committee of Basic Education for 2012/13
The Committee also adopted the Operational Plan of the Committee.

The meeting was adjourned.