Pretoria - In an effort to strengthen the performance and managerial capacity of school districts, the Gauteng Education Department has transferred six directors to head up the provincial districts.
Some of the directors are new appointees, while some are being transferred from existing positions to take up the posts. In all, there are 15 district directors in Gauteng.
The move follows the commitment made by the department two years ago towards ensuring districts provided appropriate, relevant and co-ordinated support to schools.
Last year, three Chief Directors were appointed by the department to strengthen district leadership at a senior departmental level.
Department spokesperson Charles Phahlane said districts can play a vital role in ensuring schools receive adequate support to deliver quality education, particularly where schools have a history of underperformance.
An intensive analysis of district performance in the 2009 and 2010 matric examinations was undertaken, which revealed concerns that inadequate district support was a factor in school performance.
"The process underlines the department's commitment at the recently held Soweto Education Summit to ensure that the department's districts contribute to functionality and stability of Soweto schools," said Phahlane.
Next week, all district directors will meet with the Education MEC Barbara Creecy and Head of Department, Boy Ngobeni to reinforce their role in delivering quality basic education and consolidating Gauteng schools' performance.
The directors are Raymond Martin, who has been transferred to Johannesburg East; Dennis Macaucua for Johannesburg West; Antoinette Nicolaai for Johannesburg South; Jerry Bhagaloo for Ekurhuleni South; Shirley Molobi for Tshwane North, and Hilda Kekana, who has been transferred to Tshwane South.
