Question NW2592 to the Mr G R Davis (DA) to ask Minister of Basic Education
01 December 2016 - NW2592
Davis, Mr GR to ask the Mr G R Davis (DA) to ask Minister of Basic Education
(1) With reference to (a) her reply to question 530 on 24 March 2016, (b) the 2015-16 annual report of her department and (c) the undertaking by her department in the meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on 1 November 2016, why (i) were only 7% of newly appointed principals subjected to competency tests and (ii) was the Western Cape the only province to implement Principal Competency Testing in the 2015-16 financial year; (2) whether any consultation on Principal Competency Testing has taken place with the various teachers’ unions; if not, why not; if so, (a) which teachers’ unions were consulted and (b) what are the unions’ positions on Principal Competency Testing? NW3005E
Reply:
(i) Only 7% of newly appointed principals were subjected to competency tests because the tests were not mandatory yet. Provincial Education Departments had not commenced with the development of such tests. The Western Cape and Gauteng were the only provinces which have developed competency tests but did not apply the tests for the appointment of school principals. The DBE had to first put systems in place to prepare for the implementation of the tests across all provinces. The preparations involved the development and the promulgation of the policy on the South African Standard for Principalship which had to serve as the basis for the developments of the assessment test and consultation processes at the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).
(ii) The Western Cape was the only province that implemented competency tests in the 2015-16 financial year but made it optional for schools to utilise the tests in making appointment recommendations for principals, hence the low 7% average.
RESPONSE TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY QUESTION 2592
(2) (a) Consultation on Principal Competency Testing has commenced with all unions. The first meeting took place on 23 August 2016 at the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) offices where all unions were present.
(b) SADTU is of the view that Competency Assessment for principals is a matter of mutual interest and must be a subject of collective bargaining in the ELRC rather than consultation, while CTU-ATU is willing to have bi-lateral meetings with the Department before the matter could be finalised. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for 30 November at the ELRC but has to be postponed due to the commitment of the parties to the ELRC and the ELRC to a Portfolio Committee engagement meeting with education stakeholders.