The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has directed the Department of Higher Education and Training to urgently present a report following the Central University of Technology, (CUT), precautionary suspension of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Henk de Jager and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Resources and Operations, Dr Gary Paul. Minister Nzimande remains extremely concerned about the situation at CUT given the fact that the institution is recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown, and that this situation has the potential to affect the completion of the 2020 academic year and the beginning of the 2021 academic year at the institution. The Minister has requested a detailed report from the Department to ascertain facts on the prevailing situation at the institution. The Minister will consider the report and determine the action to be taken to restore good governance and stability at the institution. Minister Nzimande will keep the public informed on his decision in this regard. -End- Issued by: Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation DST Building (53),…

The Gauteng Education MEC Mr Panyaza Lesufi will tomorrow, 11 November 2020 visit Edenglen High School following an incident of learner violence which allegedly occurred on Tuesday, 10 November 2020 outside the school premises. Learners are seen on a video footage involved in a fierce fight, one learner is badly kicked by a fellow learner. It is concerning that learners will engage in such violence in our environment and same will not be tolerated. Media is invited as follows: Date:11 November 2020 Time: 11:00 Address: Steyn Ave, Eden Glen, Johannesburg, 1613 For more information, contact the Gauteng Department of Education’s Spokesperson, Steve Mabona on ‪072 574 3860‬. Issued by the Gauteng Department of Education For media releases, speeches and news visit the Gauteng Provincial Government's portal at ‪www.gauteng.gov.za

The Department of Basic Education and the Department of Health have just concluded an agreement this evening that will ensure that learners who test positive for COVID-19 are allowed to write the final matric examinations. The DBE previously issued a set of guidelines which indicated that learners who were COVID- 19 positive would not be allowed to enter the exam center. The Department subsequently received representations from parents and learners alike who requested the government to review the protocols. The two Departments jointly considered the requests and deliberated on the practical implications. It was agreed that candidates who test positive, and deemed fit to write the examination, will be allowed to write albeit at a different venue and under secure conditions that are in compliance with the examination regulations. The Departments will work jointly to ensure that candidates who have been confirmed to be positive are given an opportunity to sit for the exams while ensuring that safety is observed. “We welcome the intervention by the Department of Health given that…

Basic Education Minister Mrs Angie Motshekga accompanied by Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi will tomorrow, Thursday 05 November 2020 monitor the start of the NSC Examinations in Soweto. The Minister will in addition to monitoring the start of Matric Examinations, receive a significant donation of ICT Equipment destined for schools from the Motsepe Foundation. Mr Patrice Motsepe and Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe will also accompany Minister Motshekga. Already a significant player in both the school sports as well as school choral music through the ABC Motsepe South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE), the foundation will continue its commitment to supporting education through the donation of ICTs to deserving schools and churches within Soweto. Members of the Media are invited to the Monitoring Visits as well as the ICT Handover and media briefing as follows: SCHOOL VISIT: Date: Tomorrow, Thursday 05 November 2020 Time: 7:00 for 7:30am Venue: SEKANO-NTOANE HIGH SCHOOL, 1933 Mabalane St, Senaoane, Johannesburg, 1818 DONATION CEREMONY Date: Tomorrow, Thursday 05 November 2020 Time: 9am for 9:30am Venue: REGINA MUNDI CHURCH,…

With teachers having pulled all their efforts to assist learners to finish the syllabus in a difficult year engulfed by Covid -19, a special provincial prayer and pledge signing ceremony for the final examinations was hosted by the North West Department of Education at Stellaland Primary school on Monday, 02 November 2020. The Provincial Prayer was attended by the North West Premier, Professor Job Mokgoro, MEC Mmaphefo Matsemela, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Mayor, Councillor Mahlangu, council of churches, labour unions, educators of different schools together with the learners. The primary purpose for the prayer is that after teachers have played their part of teaching and revising with learners, divine intervention is a sought after pillar to connect to the Almighty for guidance in the examinations during a difficult year as the department usually does at this time of the year corporately with its stakeholders. The Political Head of department MEC, Mmaphefo Matsemela encouraged the Grade 12 learners to remain cool and wear off examinations jitters. "As a parent who once…

The Department of Basic Education has urged South Africans to rally behind the matric class of 2020 ahead of the start in earnest of final Grade 12 examinations this week. The combined examination for Senior Certificate and National Senior Certificate candidates makes this the largest cohort of 1, 058 699 candidates, expected to sit for their examination from 5 November to 15 December 2020. The breakdown of category of candidates are as follows: Category of Candidates Nov NSC Full Time candidates: 616 021 Nov Part-Time Candidates:113 846 June SC Candidates:167 733 June NSC Full Time Candidates: 155 935 June NSC Part-Time Candidates: 5 164Combined Total Number of Candidates: 1 058 699It should be noted that despite the abnormal context, the Class of 2020 will be subjected to the same high quality of examination that previous cohorts were subjected to, as the Department has not made any changes to the exam papers, which were already set in 2019. The state of readiness to write the 2020 examinations is predicated on a number…

The North West Department of Education is aware of fake job adverts making the rounds on social media. We wish to put it on record that, as the department of Education we distance ourselves from those adverts circulating on social media platforms. We would like to advise everyone who has seen those messages to ignore them and regard them as fake news. Official departmental job adverts have a letterhead of the department at all times. We strongly condemn the action of circulating such adverts in the public as it misleading and inappropriate. We call on the faceless people behind the fake news to desist from such actions. End Issued by Media Liaison Unit. For more information please contact: Elias Malindi Spokesperson Cell: 072 872 8399/072 1154 855

To: All Media Houses In a series of roadshows across the province to encourage and motivate Grade 12 learners, MEC Mmaphefo Matsemela visited Iketletsong and Rethusegile Secondary schools in Lethabong Village near Rustenburg on Thursday, 29 October 2020 Iketletsong Secondary school obtained 75,2% in their preliminary examinations with 230 Grade 12 learners while Rethusegile secondary school obtained 94.55% with 110 learners. MEC Matsemela emphasised that the secret to passing, is that no learner should obtain less than 40% in their home languages and no learner should obtain less than 30% in English. Learners should obtain more than 50% in other subjects in order to pass exceptionally well. "Hundred percent is real with these learners, please continue to work very hard. I wish you all the best in your examinations. I want you to focus. Now it is your time to reflect what your teachers have taught you throughout the year. "Learners should remember to understand the terminology of their subjects, that will give them a cherry on top when collecting the…

With only eight days to go, the department of education in the North West is ready to administer the 2020 final examinations. 38 299 full-time candidates and 3 365 part time are expected to sit for their exams on 05 November 2020. The department has prepared 438 public centres. All of these centres have been audited for compliance in terms of facilities, staff capacity space , conduciveness, security and storage capacity as well as full adherence of Covid-19 protocols. Printing of questions is completed and papers will be delivered to the province weekly and storage points managers have already been trained. School principals across the province were trained on conduct of examinations under Covid-19 regulations. Markers have been selected and awaiting appointment while the actual marking is set to start on 04 January 2020. MEC for Education in the North West, Mmaphefo Matsemela says she is optimistic that the province is ready to host the 2020 cohort with much adherence to Covid-19 protocols in mind. "We are ready. I am optimistic…

Following concerns by the Democratic Alliance (DA) against mismanagement of funds at Dirang ka Natla Comprehensive School in Khuma, the North West department of Education can confirm that it is aware of the allegations such that a team of investigators have been assigned to immediately attend to the matter. Education MEC in the province Mmaphefo Matsemela condemns this practice and says it is really concerning that elements of criminality and/or corruption at the expense of tax paying citizens. “I condemn financial mismanagement in our schools in the province and those found at the helm must face the full might of the law while internal appropriate and necessary steps should be taken without any waste of time. Our communities must also take a lead in reporting such acts of criminality. I wish to place it on record that it is not that my response is triggered by the matter raised by the DA in the publication but that it will be a responsible step for us to clear the air and dispel…