Pretoria – All school principals from 10 underperforming education districts in the Eastern Cape will from next month undergo a leadership and management training course aimed at helping them improve their schools’ performance.
The intervention is a result of a partnership between the Eastern Cape Education Department and the University of Fort Hare.
Department spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani said this follows a recent signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the two institutions.
“Last year, these districts’ low ranking triggered a series of state support programmes designed to improve the schools' academic performance, which culminated in these interventions.
“The department has declared all schools who have obtained less than 50% pass rate as underperforming, and earmarked them for this intervention which will consist of teacher support and learner development programmes,” Pulumani explained.
He said the intervention was meant to advance the objectives of the Learner Attainment Improvement Strategy for the 2013 – 2015 academic years.
“During the announcement, the department will also be introducing a Principal’s Learning Academy for general professional and management capacity building of all General Education and Training, and Further Education and Training bands respectively.
“The department believes the launch of these two major developments will showcase its commitment to better learner performance and teacher development.”
The department will make an announcement on the specifics of the project on 30 April at the Hudson Park High Auditorium. – SAnews.gov.za
