Polokwane - Hundreds of principals and circuit managers in Limpopo will be sent on an advanced training course this year.
Education spokesperson Ndo Mangala said on Tuesday that the department would enrol school management teams for a certificate course at the universities of Limpopo and Venda.
"The department is looking at ways of improving leadership skills in schools around the province. We are revitilising and strengthening management at all levels of the system while ensuring accountability," said Mr Mangala.
He said 200 school management teams will be enrolled at the universities this year.
The department was also partnering with the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance Institute in Gauteng to boost the skills of 134 circuit managers who were hired in the last financial year.
The department has also entered into a partnership with the Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy (PALAMA) to train managers from July.
Mr Mangala said 750 school management teams, including principals, deputies and heads of department, would be trained and helped to implement school development and improvement plans.
He said 50 principals will be put through a two-year management course.
He further announced that 1 418 teacher posts, 1 096 HOD posts, 311 deputy principal posts and 360 principal posts will be filled this year, adding that this will help towards a pupil teacher ratio of 32:1.
"We are also exploring various ways introducing an electronic time management system, which will be rolled out in the near future," said Mr Masemola.
In August, six educators were expected to complete a one-year Masters of Arts course in educational planning at the Institute of Education, which is part of the University of London.
Another 28 information communications and technology (ICT) curriculum advisors were also studying full-time at the Tshwane University of Technology. They are doing a three-year national diploma in computer studies until 2011.
