Pretoria - The Director General in the Department of Higher Education and Training, Professor Mary Metcalfe, is to leave the department by the end of April 2011.
A joint statement by the DG and Minister Blade Nzimande on Monday said Metcalfe had been asked to establish the department - after the former Department of Education was split into two departments - and a solid foundation in this regard had been laid.
The minister thanked Metcalfe for the "sterling work done".
"The minister is confident that the work of the department will proceed with vigour and urgency as the department takes forward the urgent tasks of addressing the major challenges the country faces in establishing an effective and responsive post-school education and training system of quality," said the statement.
The two dismissed reports of impropriety on either party, calling it speculation. A Sunday newspaper claimed that Nzimande had demanded Metcalfe to resign because of a break down in relations.
