Pretoria - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is expected to make an announcement on the nature of a sustainable intervention in support of the Eastern Cape Department of Education.
The department has been experiencing a number of challenges which have hampered schooling, including problems with learner transport, school nutrition, the termination of the contracts of temporary teachers, learning and teaching support materials and the ongoing problem of school infrastructure.
Basic Education spokesperson Granville Whittle said the department was working closely with the provincial department to find speedy solutions to the problems faced by the province.
"The situation in the Eastern Cape Education Department is being addressed at the highest level. The Minister and Deputy Minister Enver Surty visited the province two weeks ago to discuss the situation with the Premier, Noxolo Kiviet and the MEC for Education, Mandla Makupula.
"On 15 February, the Director General of Basic Education Bobby Soobrayan led a delegation to the Eastern Cape and met with the Superintendent General of the Education Department to discuss the problems of the province, as well as to consider possible solutions," Whittle said.
He added that Soobrayan has since presented a report to Motshekga on his visit to the province and she is considering the report.
An announcement on the nature of a sustainable intervention is expected to be made in due course.
President Jacob Zuma on Thursday said government was considering a sustainable intervention for the Eastern Cape Education.
In response to the debate on the State of the Nation Address in the National Assembly, Zuma said he had received a comprehensive briefing from Motshekga and Surty following their visit to the province.
"The learner and teacher support materials have not been adequately delivered. This has led to a situation where there are learners without textbooks. The school nutrition programme has collapsed and scholar transport came to a total halt in many areas.
"As for now, the Triple T call to prioritise teachers, textbooks and time, cannot be implemented in the Eastern Cape. Any intervention will occur with the full knowledge approval and co-operation of the Premier of the Eastern Cape and the MEC for Education in the province. It will be designed to assist the province to effectively administer education," said Zuma.
