The communication Services Directorate has recently developed a monthly events calendar to eliminate the on-going miscommunication and clashing of Departmental events.

Information appearing on this calendar is collated by the Communications Directorate and processed before it appears in this calendar.  All chief directorates and directorates are expected to contribute with the list of their monthly activities, at least a month before so that their activities can appear in this calendar.

The Department of Education Media Liaison and Public Relations Officer Malibongwe Mtima explained that the events calendar was developed to ensure that the communications directorate is able to delegate and provide support to each directorate having an event. “Our directorates need to work out their monthly events and submit them on time”, said Mtima

For those needing the departmental leadership like the MEC and SG, directorates are expected to get approval from these offices before such dates are made public to avoid them clashing with the diaries of the leadership.  “We need to avoid last minutes requests as they spoil working relations and start working smart.  It should be remembered that last minute events lead to constraints and poor service” said Mtima.

Currently, chief directorates and directorates are working independently however that results in miscommunication amongst each other and clashing dates for their events. Mtima emphasised that the Communications Directorate developed this tool to ensure that events are lined up according to dates so that the department can enjoy proper profiling with no clashing dates.

Acting Chief Director for Strategic Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Neliswa Kanjana expressed how excited she is about the calendar. “Our directorate has been working together with communications,submitting these events on time over the years as we need them to profile our events.  They also help to upload departmental plans and reports on the departmental website for the public to be able to access them” explained Kanjana.

FET Band & Extra Curriculum Project Managers responsible for School enrichment and Extra activities, Daniel Sotyato, described this calendar as a powerful tool helping them to plan properly.  “Communications has been very supportive in our events from branding to media coverage however the biggest challenge we face leading to noncompliance to this wonderful initiative is signing late of our directorates submissions which normally result to postponements and ultimately events clatching.  We need the management to know that signing these late can lead to these unnecessary clashes of dates and unavailability of the leadership as it may be double booked”;said Sotyato.

Education Social Support Services (ESSS) Chief Directorate Office Manager, Siphokazi Magadla is glad to hear about this monthly events calendar that communications has developed.  “I believe this will assist ESSS in planning our monthly events. The duplication of events on the same day is one of many challenges that we once faced as we once had an event where MEC was handing over Bakkies to Agricultural Schools and there was no branding, it was a disgrace.  To ensure professionalism and proper support by those we need, all directorates must submit their monthly plan to communications, this will make things change for the better”, Magadla.

The department’s Events Officer, Ayanda Njoliwho is part of the branding team working closely with all the directorates explained how miscommunication and clashing dates affects their work. “Most of the time we get invitations on the day of the event and we are expected to rush and attend these event.  I urge all directorates to please submit their events to the office of the director Communications at least a month before so that we can plan and provide the needed support. Directorates should plan their events on time as this will make us work a better”, concluded Njoli.

ECDOE joins the rest of South Africa and the World in celebrating the important role played by teachers in molding, developing and shaping a human being. This marks a day where educators are celebrated for their hard work, dedication and commitment to their profession.

On the 5 October 2017, teachers from 6 Eastern Cape Education Districts converged in Butterworth to be awarded for excellence and celebrated for all their efforts. This is done to remember these devotees who sacrifice their lives on a daily basis to build and construct future leaders. This is not always done in favourable conditions but we see these men and women soldiering on without tiring or ceasing.

The day was honoured by the presence of Mayor Bikitsha from Butterworth, EC Education SG Themba Kojana, Union representatives, Senior Managers from different Districts. Giving messages of support were representatives from different unions who appreciated this gesture and pleaded with Department to not only focuses on Grade 12 but concentrate and give more attention to the foundation phase as this will help improve Grade 12 results in the future.

In his speech, SG Temba Kojana defined teaching as a mother of all professions and further described it as not just a noble profession but a “stewardship that is Heavenly”. He emphasized the fact that teachers need to remember that they have been entrusted with the lives of other people and that they are role models who have been given a task to “mold young minds into bigger minds. “They mold people into becoming good citizens of a particular country and contribute positively in the economy and social upliftment of countries”, said Kojana.

“The time has arrived for us to change the profile and image of the Department and ensure that we communicate one message, a message of hope.” These were the words echoed by SG as he encouraged teachers to learn from those who came before them, the likes of OR Tambo, an astute leader who was once a maths and science teacher. As we celebrate the year of OR Tambo, SG touched on some of the values that OR possessed that teachers need to emulate. A sense of fairness and justice for all, fortitude, resilience, bravery, selflessness, complete abjudication of self, tried and tested leader, uprightness of character, humility and being a scholar and academic. “Teachers must inspire the sons and daughters of our province,” concluded Kojana.

“To the world you may be just a teacher but to your students you are a star”

ECDOE PARTNER WITH SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES TO CHANGE IMAGE OF IT’S EDUCATION SYSTEM

The Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDOE) together with the South Africa Council of Churches (SACC) has embarked on a partnership that will see the 24 Religious Heritage Schools in the Eastern Cape become centers of excellence.

On the 22-24 September 2017 a Religiuos Heritage Expo was held at St Matthews, with an aim to resurrect and restore the school to its former glory and even beyond. This is the beginning of a relationship that seeks to bring positive change in the education of the Province.In his speech during the expo, ECDOE Superintendent General, Temba Kojana highlighted the role of the Department in this partnership.The ECDOE has already begun with improvement of infrastructure as they have started refurbishing and renovating structures.“The refurbishment of hostels is also currently underway or finished in Clarkbury, Healdtown, Mt Arthur and Free Mantle. Healdtown will also benefit from an additional new R3O million hostel, the contractors are currently on site” said Kojana.

He continued to express the eagerness and keenness of the Department to work with the Council of Churches in establishing these schools as centers and models of excellence in the Eastern Cape. “We share your zeal and commitment of ensuring that these schools, as they are restored to be models of excellence, they become beacons of hope for all our schools that are currently working very hard to restore the image of our education system”.

Preceding the main event was a visit to the memorial site of the three people who were instrumental in the establishment of St Mattews. The delegation from ECDOE and SACC led by Ebenezer Ntlali, Bishop of the Anglican Church of the Grahamstown Diocese remembered Bishop John Armstrong (Founder), Charles Taberer (Priest Builder) and Chief Socishe(Chief Benefector).Ntlali gave a brief background on the history of St Matthews and the relationship between Chief Socishe and Bishop Armstrong. It is the work done by these three stalwarts that we see the revival of St Matthews today.

Chief Solomon NkululekoSocishe was also present to honor the work done by his great grandfather when approached by Bishop Armstrong for land, donated 698 hectares for the building of St Matthews.

This collaboration sees the beginning of great things to come in the Eastern Cape in building a society that is moral and passionate about education. “We seek to nurture wholly developed morally upright citizens who would go on to be leaders of their communities”, concluded Kojana.

The Minister of Department of Basic Education (DBE), Angie Motshekga, awarded the Eastern Cape Department of Education(ECDoE) with the Learners ID Number Award on 19 September 2017.

This award was presented to ECDoE by the Deputy Minister of Education, Enver Surty during the DBE Data Summit 2017.  The Award is in recognition of the first province to make learner ID numbers compulsory and extra effort in ensuring learner ID numbers are captured accurately. 

The Manager for Education Management Information System (EMIS), Mr Riaan Janse Van Rensburg who is responsible for South African School and Administration Management System (SA-SAMS) collected the Award on behalf of the Department.

This Award means that ECDoE is making great strides in improving the credibility of education data.  Reliable and credible data leads to improved education planning, monitoring and support for improved school functionality and quality teaching and learning.  The Data Driven Districts (DDD) system currently used by schools, Circuits, District Offices and Head Office draws data from SA-SAMS.  DDD programme aims to improve learner outcomes by improving the manner in which education data is collected and used by teachers, principals and officials in education to support quality teaching and learning.

ECDoE extends heartfelt gratitude to all the schools, Circuit and District Offices that have contributed to the Department winning this Award.