Premier: 109. Mr R S Stevenson to ask the Premier: (1) (a) How many calls had been referred to the province by the Presidential Hotline as at the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) how many of these calls have been resolved; (2) what is the reason for the poor rate [...]

THE Eastern Cape Department of Education is being accused of spending more than R40-million of unauthorised money on office-based teachers – while many in lower level posts, along with suppliers, have spent agonising months awaiting payment. DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren expressed shock that “higher salaries have been paid to office-based educators in the Eastern [...]

The Democratic Alliance has learnt with shock of higher salaries that were paid to office based educators in the Eastern Cape, without these costs being budgeted for in the 2009/10 financial year. The DA has in its possession documentary proof that office based educators, namely Deputy Chief Education Specialists (DCES), Education Development Officers (EDO’s) and [...]

The Democratic Alliance is deeply disappointed with the Education and Budget speech 2010/11 delivered by the MEC for Education, Mahlubandile Qwase, yesterday. (subs: wed, 24 Mar). The content lacked substance and was clouded with ideologies. The policy speech does not lean towards revolutionising the education system. The more this department intends embarking on critical initiatives [...]

THE Fort Beaufort district office of the Education Department has been brought to a standstill by protesting officials affiliated to Sadtu and Nehawu who oppose the appointment of a new district director by Bhisho. The protest has been criticised by the DA which called on the department to take action against union members. “These disruptive [...]

86. Mr R S Stevenson to ask the MEC responsible for Provincial Safety, Liaison and Transport: (1) When was the application from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM) for approval for a municipal police service received; (2) whether this application will be approved within the stipulated 120-day period; if not, why not;

The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape says its concerned that the provincial education department is holding back on announcing the final staff establishments for schools for this year. DA MPL, Edmund van Vuuren, said in a statement on Wednesday that this is a result of the Department succumbing to the pressure of unions.  Read [...]

The Democratic Alliance is deeply perturbed by the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape for indefinitely withholding the issuing of the final staff establishments for individual schools for 2010. It is regrettable that, after having praised the Department of Education in December 2009 for the declaration of the provisional post provisioning for schools, the [...]

THE provincial Department of Education is to send more than 2 000 teachers back to university after finding them either unqualified or under-qualified at the end of last year. But the DA’s provincial Education spokesperson, Edmund van Vuuren, said the MEC was under-estimating the number of teachers who would be going to university. He has [...]

It is indeed an honour to address you at this very auspicious occasion with the conclusion of the National Education Campaign of the Democratic Alliance. I have identified a number of problematic issues that have a detrimental effect on attaining quality education in the Eastern Cape. Allow me to name a few and show to [...]