Pretoria - The Department of Basic Education has finalised the terms of reference for the task team that will investigate allegations of selling of posts within the sector.
The names of the task team members will be announced once the proposed list has been gazetted.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga established the task team after recent media reports alleging that some posts in the education sector were sold for cash.
“The task team will consist of six members, including the chairperson. The task team will include a lawyer, an independent education expert, a representative from the public service commission, a representative from the Justice Department, a representative from the Department of Basic Education and the chairperson who should be a respected independent expert in the field of education,” the department said in a statement.
The terms of reference are to enquire into and to report to the minister on all facets of the allegations reported in the media with regard to the:
- alleged irregular appointment of educators at schools;
- the role played in these alleged irregular appointments;
- whether directly or indirectly and whether by act or omission;
- by any union and/or any member or members and/or any official or officials of any such a union;
- any official or officials of any provincial education department; and
- any school governing body and/or any member or members of such a school governing body.
This also include any association of school governing bodies and/or any member or members of such an association, any organisation, whether an education stakeholder or not, any individual or individuals, to make recommendations to the minister on how these alleged allegations should be addressed.
Also, as part of terms of reference, the team will investigate the challenges pertaining to the advertising and the filling of posts and on any possible legislative changes that may be required to improve the existing legislative provisions relating to the advertising and the filling of posts.
The team will also advise the minister on the appointment and placement policies, applicable to educators and other members of staff at schools, in existence in the National Department of Basic Education and in provincial education departments, the implementation of such policies and whether such policies require review and/or amendment.
This also includes referring any activities identified during, and flowing from, its investigation which indicate that criminal offences have been committed to the South African Police Service. – SAnews.gov.za
