Premier ‘must address crisis in education’

A COMPREHENSIVE plan for tackling the Eastern Cape’s education crisis, particularly the growing teacher shortage and infrastructure problems, should be at the heart of premier Phumulo Masualle’s state of the province address today.

It is the main concern of all the political parties, even though a team from the office of the premier and provincial treasury was sent to help the Department of Education last year.

The department was still struggling, the parties said, highlighting pupil transport problems, a shortage of teachers, especially for mathematics and science, and low numeracy and literacy levels.

The province remains at the bottom in matric results, although last year it rose from 56% to 59%.

ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the party expected Masualle to outline plans to address the education crisis.

DA MPL Bobby Stevenson said the premier must tell the people what he would do differently this year to ensure that school leavers acquired skills to enter the job market.

COPE MPL Lievie Sharpley said the “government must also consider building hostels as an alternative to school transport”.

Parties are also concerned about problems facing certain municipalities.

Thando Mpulu (UDM) said: “We would like the premier to address political instability at Mnquma Local Municipality [and] Buffalo City.”

Stevenson said Masualle must give details on dealing with corruption, maladministration and cadre deployment, calling them wrecking balls.

He said the provincial government needed to outline its plans to attract investments.

“The unemployment rate continues to rise, and hopes for a better future continue to fall,” he said.

But Mabuyane believed radical economic transformation was the game changer and that Masualle would elaborate on that.

He said the ANC wanted progress reports on the N2 Wild Coast highway and the Umzimvubu Dam.

Sharpley said: “Seventy percent of rural roads are difficult to travel. Some lead to tourist destinations. The roads also affect ambulance services.”

Mpulu raised concerns about lawsuits against the Department of Health in municipalities where National Health Insurance has been implemented.

EFF MPL Dinga Peter said Masualle had no power over his executive, or his own office.

He said: “The party is [headed] for its provincial congress, [which] puts pressure on him [as] he wants to win support from the party factions.

“Social Development MEC [Nancy Sihlwayi] has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, trying to interfere with the administration.

“What has he done about it?”