Page 11 - DPSA_SDR Vol 12 No.2 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF

the aim of South Africa’s National Space With this in mind, space weather can research collaboration opportunities.
Policy and National Space Strategy, and lead to reduced signals from global “The country’s space science
space weather information has both navigation satellite systems, adversely programme is feeding the knowledge
national and international benefits. affecting navigation; increased economy and placing the national
radiation, which can destroy human cells system of innovation at the centre of
The increased interconnectedness and tissue, especially during long-haul South Africa’s developmental agenda,”
and interdependence of technological flights; and blackouts of high-frequency the department added. n
systems in the world today – which will radio communications, which are critical
expand as the fourth industrial revolution for the aviation and marine sectors. SAnews.gov.za
gathers momentum – means that space
weather events can have a negative While South Africa is the only African
impact on multiple systems. These can country with operational space weather
lead to serious operational failures in the capabilities, the department said it will
communication, navigation, energy and engage with other African countries on
aviation sectors, among others, with data sharing, infrastructure hosting,
potentially disastrous effects. training, product development, and

System-wide improvement project behind Gauteng matric success

Gauteng Premier David Makhura those things but we have also invested what we have been aiming for, for many
has attributed the province’s clinical a lot as a province. We have built 335 years – not only to be number one but
performance in the 2018 National Senior new schools in Gauteng since 1994. All to produce quality results that will make
Certificate (NSC) exam results to a those are system-wide interventions,” he everyone proud, most importantly, our
system-wide improvement undertaken said. township schools,” he said.
by the provincial government. Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza
Lesufi said interventions such as the All 15 Gauteng Education Department
These interventions, he said, were not ICT-based smart classroom had also districts were in the country’s top 20
just educational. A beaming Makhura contributed to the province’s success. best performing schools.
made the remarks at the announcement
of the Gauteng matric results in Pretoria. “We were under pressure. We were told “All of them are in the top 20 and there
“We have a R45 billion budget on basic this is a waste of money and that there is not one of them who achieved below
education. Basic education is the top was no way we would improve township 81%,” Lesufi said.
priority; it’s number one on our provincial schools using technology. We are proud
budget. So, how are we spending this to announce to society that the school we During the ceremony, Lesufi said the
money? Because people can say it’s launched this ICT project [at], Boitumelo 2018 statistics revealed that the gap
the top priority but the money is spent Secondary School in Tembisa, this between no-fee and paying schools was
elsewhere (sic),” he said. school’s pass rate was around 64%. narrowing, saying the gap had been
Today this school is standing at 94%. reduced from 34% to 3,9%.
The province annually spends R1 billion
on learner transport for 110 000 pupils “All our township schools have made “This means no matter where you are in
living more than five kilometres away sure that this is a performance we can Gauteng, whether in the township or in
from schools. Makhura also revealed all be proud of. We have fulfilled our an urban area, you stand a good chance
that Gauteng spends R2,5 billion to mandate of one classroom, one smart of obtaining a bachelor pass,” he said.
ensure that 1,4 million learners receive board; one teacher, one laptop; one
meals every day in school, while over learner, one tablet,” Lesufi said. Regarding the much criticised 30% pass
R2 billion is spent annually on textbooks, mark, the MEC said that of the province’s
stationery, school furniture and other Hoerskool Garsfontein, Hoerskool 84 000 matric learners that passed last
learner support material. Waterkloof and Hoerskool Noordhuewel year’s exams, only nine learners passed
were revealed as the province’s best with 30%. He also announced that not
“We spent over R200 million on teacher performing schools at the ceremony. At a single Gauteng school had between
development and support to make sure the awards ceremony, Lesufi announced a zero and 50% pass rate, saying only
that there is no teacher left behind on that all the province’s best performing three schools obtained less than a 70%
development. We also spent on R160 learners and every no-fee school’s top pass rate.
million on improving Grade 12s. three would receive four-year bursaries
to pursue degrees of their choice. Lesufi said this demonstrated that the
“Every school counts in our province. quality passes from the province’s
The greatest effort is on township He saluted learners, teachers, school township schools are making things
schools because until children from the governing bodies and parents for possible for the province. n
townships in this urban province can their role. “The class of 2018 has
get the best education, we can’t say demonstrated our commitment to - SAnews.gov.za
we are winning. “We measure ourselves ensure that we are not only the best but
with the townships. How are schools in we must count on those who make these
townships performing? We have done all results possible. These results represent

Volume 12 No.2 of 2019 | SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW 9