This week, a team of representatives of the WCED met with school governing body organisations, the educator unions, school principals, as well as representatives from higher education organisations for consultation on the draft bill.
Prior to that, the provincial cabinet approved the WCED's request to publish the draft Western Cape Provincial School Education Amendment Bill for public comment in February 2010, with the closing date 16 April 2010.
These formal meetings were productive, informative and positive.
All comments will now be taken into consideration and any necessary amendments to the draft bill will be made. Thereafter, the bill will enter a formal process of finalisation involving both the Western Cape Cabinet and the legislature.
The amendment bill is ultimately aimed at ensuring that the highest quality of schooling possible is available to learners in schools staffed by committed, competent teachers.
The bill also creates greater levels of accountability in the system.
It sets out to achieve the following objectives:
I am confident that all necessary processes will be concluded early in the second half of this year.
Bronagh Casey
Spokesperson
Minister of Education, Donald Grant
Western Cape
Cell: 072 724 1422
Tel: 021 467 2377