Private sector matric support plan scrapped

A TENDER issued to hire a private company to support thousands of Eastern Cape progressed pupils and matric repeaters has been cancelled.

This is despite a call on the Department of Education earlier this year by premier Phumulo Masualle to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to assist progressed pupils to pass.

Masualle was speaking at the time during a top achievers’ ceremony at the International Convention Centre in East London in January.

His comments came after a dismal performance last year which saw the matric pass rate decline by 8.6 percentage points from 65.4% the previous year to 56.8%.

Officials placed an advert yesterday cancelling 10 bids, among them proposals from service providers to develop and implement an intensive support programme for Grade 12 pupils.

Also cancelled was a bid to establish a facility for the manufacture and supply of scholastic stationery to the department.

Eastern Cape education portfolio committee chairman Fundile Gade said the committee had been informed about the department’s plan to hire a private company to support progressed pupils and repeating matriculants.

Gade said the committee had counter proposed that the department create 63 study centres to support these pupils.

“We said we were not comfortable with the idea of issuing a tender. You don’t need a tender to teach learners.

“We said can’t we create these centres and group them in three clusters and get well-skilled teachers in maths and science to teach there.”

Gade said the committee found out from mid-year exam results that only 15.6% of progressed pupils passed.

He said these pupils struggled with understanding questions asked in English and study guides written in English and Xhosa were needed.

The department would also need to target 15 Saturdays from now until exams, to provide support.

Gade said education authorities accepted the committee’s proposal.

DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren said it was the responsibility of the department to provide support to pupils and not to outsource to a private company.

“There are subject advisers employed in the department and it could also use retired teachers. Schools should be assisting these pupils.”