Quality of learning, teaching improving in Gauteng

"We are proud of the innovation and hard work which has resulted in improvements in learner outcomes. We are confident that our strategies will continue to ensure learners do well at school and have a better chance of success in their adult lives," Creecy said.

Presenting her department's annual report to the Gauteng legislature last week, Creecy highlighted that the department has, during the 2012/13 financial year made further advances towards its goal of creating an equitable and quality education system that will contribute to a better life for all people help to build a better province.

She announced that the department has received an unqualified audit report with a few findings on compliance for the fourth consecutive year and also received a clean audit report in the Audit of Performance Information, with no findings.

"This is the fourth consecutive year that the department achieved this in both elements of the audit. This achievement is against an even more impressive performance in improving service delivery to ensure that quality learning and teaching is undertaken in the classroom every day," Creecy said.

Among the department's achievements is the universal levels of female participants in schools, achieved by the province in the last five years. In 2012, the department delivered education services to 2,807 institutions with a total of 2,302,508 learners. "Of these, 2,080,466 were in public institutions and 222 042 were in independent institutions (including special schools).

"The learner enrollment increased by 2.6% in 2012 compared with 2011," she said.

Creecy added that during this financial year, she is looking to intensify the delivery of plans and hopes to achieve greater results with regard to ensuring that quality learning and teaching continues to take place in classrooms.