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QLTC gaining ground in NC

 

The Northern Cape Department of Education is busy reviving the Quality Learning and Teaching structures in all Districts to address the challenges that confronts the education system and collectively to do our utmost best to turnaround schooling, in the interest of children.

 

The National Development Plan made it quite clear that South Africa will realise its development goals to the extent that it draws on the energies of its people, building capabilities, and promoting partnerships throughout society.

Now-a-days, when challenges are faced by our communities, they resort to disrupting Education or violating the right to Education. We have seen it in the Northern Cape over the past weeks in various schooling communities. These public unrest in these school communities deserves our undivided attention as communities opt to disrupt, before engaging to resolve the matters of concern.

In every school, sound leadership can and should contribute to improved learner outcomes by shaping the conditions and climate in which teaching and learning occur. This should begin to show why we say the principal is the nerve centre of school improvement. When the leadership is strong even the most challenged schools thrive.

 

 We envisage an education system that:

• ·         Learners who attend school every day and are on time because they want to come to school, the school is accessible and because they know that if they miss school when they should not, some action is taken. These learners understand the importance of doing their schoolwork, in school and at home, and they know their school will do everything possible to get them to learn what they should;

 

• ·       As part of the reason why learners want to come to school is that they get to meet friends in an environment where everyone is respected, they will have a good meal, they know they can depend on their teachers for advice and guidance, and they are able to participate in sporting and cultural activities organised at the school after school hours;

 

• ·         Teachers, who have received the training they require, are continuously improving their capabilities and are confident in their profession. These teachers understand the importance of their profession for the development of the nation and do their utmost to give their learners a good educational start in life. They are on the whole satisfied with their jobs because their pay and conditions of service in general are decent and similar to what one would find in other professions;

 

• ·         A school principal who ensures that teaching in the school takes place as it should, according to the national curriculum, but who also understands his or her role as a leader whose responsibility is to promote harmony, creativity and a sound work ethic within the school community and beyond;

 

• ·         Parents who are well informed about what happens in the school, and receive regular reports about how well their children perform against clear standards that are shared by all schools. These parents know that if something is not happening as it should in the school, the principal or someone in the Department will listen to them and take steps to deal with any problems;

 

• ·         Learning and teaching materials in abundance and of a high quality;

 

• ·         School facilities that are modern, functional, safe and well maintained. Learners and teachers look after their buildings and facilities because they take pride in their school.

 

 

The Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC) strives to bring into reality the delivery of quality learning and teaching through a collaborative effort between the political parties, Department of Education, Teacher Unions, Association of School Governing Bodies and school governing bodies, Parents, student organizations and learners, traditional leaders, business, communities groups, ELRC, professional bodies including SACE, subject-specific associations and other interested parties inside and outside the education domain.

 

We have commit ourselves to work together to advance the goals of improving the quality of education in South Africa.We should, through the QLTC turn all our schools into centers of excellence. We should be able to monitor the basic functionality of our schools, based on the following:

·         Code of conduct for teachers, learners and support staff;

·         Procedures and mechanism of attending to absenteeism of learners, teachers and support staff;

·         Sound leadership and management ,governance and relationships;

·         Curriculum coverage;

·         Provisioning and resources ,learner achievement ,policies on school safety & security, Disciplinary procedures;

·         Communication with Parents and Communities;

·         Teacher Development

School QLTC functionality is an SGB responsibility. School Management Team members should guide and advice to Governors.

 

QLTC  gives an opportunity to Ward Councillors and Ward committee members, CDWs, NGOs, Faith Base and Youth  Organizations to be involved in education at school level.

 

Given the number of underperforming high and primary schools in the Northern Cape, School QLTC Steering Committees now plays a pivotal role to ensure a meaningful parental involvement to address the aspect of improved learner outcomes and accountability and oversight responsibilities.

 

Collectively, we need do what is right, as this is what our learners needs now and for the future. Our purpose and action must be to create a better life for our children through the provision of quality public education in all our schools.

 

Let us work together to make their dreams and aspirations a reality.

 

End.