Fixing education will be the real challenge for MEC

Education in the Eastern Cape is considered among the worst in the country – and with good reason too. Chronic shortage of teachers for critical subjects, questionable finances, children forced to learn in structures on the brink of collapse, non-existent sanitation at schools, a lack of necessary resources and an inferior standard of education are just some of the issues that have become synonymous with the department.

A recent report stated that the Eastern Cape needs about R70bn to build better schools.

Mlungisi Mvoko – a veteran teacher and former mayor – was handed the poisoned chalice that is education in November by premier Phumulo Masualle following the death of Mandla Makupula. Simply saying that he faces a challenge in this new role is an understatement.

The department is beset by problems – and overcoming these obstacles will be no easy feat. Failing here is more than just a bad score on some political report card at the end of the year, but it has very real consequences for the thousands of children who rely on the state for their education. It is the pupils from urban areas and townships to far-flung rural villages across the province who bear the brunt of an ineffective and uncaring administration.

Mvoko has only been at the helm for a month, but already has an idea of how he hopes to turn the situation around. In an interview with the Daily Dispatch recently, he said he would draw on his knowledge and experience in government to hopefully bring some change to this troubled department.

“The biggest challenge of the department [is that] we are reactive,” he recently said.

Information is knowledge and Mvoko concedes that he needs to have the hard facts in order to craft a plan to fix the problems and change the status quo.

The road ahead for Mvoko will be one with numerous obstacles. However, the challenges facing education in this province are not insurmountable if we have the right people at the helm. Only time will tell if the new education MEC will realise his plans for the department and make good on his promise to turnaround the sorry state of affairs.

The department is beset by problems – and overcoming these obstacles will be no easy feat