Education Department Launches New Era in Education Support - MEC Dugmore

Districts will support Further Education and Training (FET) on a district level. The special focus on GET by circuits reflects the importance given to primary schooling as the bedrock for further and higher education.

The WCED will increase district staff considerably over the next two years to fill positions in the circuit teams and other support services.

The following are examples of changes in the number of approved posts in districts:

• The number of IMG advisors will increase from 64 to 171, an increase of 167%, reflecting an increasing focus on the importance of school leadership and management.
• The number of curriculum advisors will increase from 290 to 360, an increase of 24%, reflecting the need to provide greater curriculum advice to teachers.
• The number of special needs education advisors will increase from 167 to 194, an increase of 16%.
• The number of early childhood development advisors will increase by 700%, from one per district to eight, reflecting a new emphasis on ECD.
• The number of foundation phase advisors will increase from 25 to 49, an increase of 96%.
• The number of intermediate and senior phase advisors will increase from 52 to 88, an increase of 69%.
• The number of assessment coordinators will increase by 100%, from seven to 14.
• The number of social workers employed by the WCED will increase by 167%, from 21 to 56.

The increase in the number of social workers will help to deal with the special challenges faced by learners in poor communities, and what they present to effective teaching and learning.

New posts will include those of the circuit teams leaders (49), school enrichment coordinators (8), quality management coordinators (8), and staff responsible for strategy and support in districts (6).

The role of the circuit team manager is to coordinate and motivate their team, and should not be confused with the role of existing circuit mangers. Circuit teams will include circuit managers who will be responsible for IMG advice.

About 1,200 candidates applied for the posts of circuit team managers. The large pool of applicants complicated selection, but the WCED was very impressed by the calibre of the candidates who came through the rigorous selection process.

Given the high calibre of the successful candidates, the WCED is confident that our circuit team managers will be the vanguard of a new era in service delivery in schools, as we work with schools to provide quality education for all.

Enquiries:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
Cell: 082 528 8278