New administrator appointed for NW education

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“We are confident as the Department of Basic Education that the intervention team led by the Administrator, Mr Mohlala, will have the full support of the political leadership and officials of both the National and Provincial Departments in order to effectively conduct their work,” said the Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

Mohlala’s appointment follows the provincial department being placed under administration under Section 100(1)(a) of the Constitution.

Motshekga, who introduced Mohlala, was leading a delegation of Senior Managers to the North West on Wednesday as part of the National Intervention activities in the province. The intervention activities follow President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to place the province under administration for its deteriorating governance after weeks of protests from residents demanding that then Premier Supra Mahumapelo step down.

“He will assume responsibility for the key focus areas of the Accounting Officer, based on the findings of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) Assessment Report, regarding legislative prescripts, strategic plans and annual performance plans of the provincial education department.

“He will be responsible for implementing the intervention areas identified in the section 100(1)(b) Intervention plan, which was aligned to be in line with the overarching Memorandum of Understanding signed between the national Government and the Provincial Government of the North West,” said the Minister.

Mohlala will also be required to provide progress reports on the implementation of the Intervention and Operational Plans to the Minister and identify risks to service delivery as well as remediation steps to address such risks.

Motshekga met with MEC Jonas Sello Lehari and Senior Managers of the North West Education Department and Sport Development to plot a way-forward, and foster a positive working relationship through the signing of a formal intervention protocol between the two departments.

The section 100(1) (b) intervention in the North West Department of Education and Sport Development that the Ministry and Department of Basic Education is responsible for, includes the following intervention areas:

• addressing matters of emphasis reported through the regularity audits by the Auditor-General of South Africa; and non-compliance challenges reported through the DPME’s Management Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT);
  
• ensuring sound and accountable financial, fiscal, budget, supply chain management and human resource management;
  
• ensuring sound and accountable management of Conditional Grants;
  
• ensuring that post provisioning is in terms of and complies with norms and standards;
  
• addressing the challenges identified in the quarterly In-Year Monitoring (IYM) Reports;
  
• reviewing and ensuring accurate and reliable education data management through the integrated education management information system (EMIS) in general, and through the South African Schools Administration and Management System (SA-SAMS) in particular;
  
• strengthening the implementation, monitoring and evaluation oversight of curriculum management and delivery;
  
• ensuring and providing monitoring and evaluation oversight on the resourcing and capacitation of district and circuits;
  
• ensuring timeous school infrastructure provisioning, and the maintenance of existing infrastructure; and
  
• ensuring safe learner transport provisioning for deserving learners.