“As a radical break with the past, we will use the Planning and Delivery Oversight Unit to align and integrate our programmes and to refocus everybody around our core business – effective delivery of the curriculum. This has also been informed by international experiences of systems change, as required by our current Department.”

The Planning and Delivery Oversight Unit’s initial task will be to focus on improving the performance of 18 poorly performing districts in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. These districts have consistently underperformed in the National Senior Certificate exams.

An amount of R29.2 million has been allocated in 2011/12 to bring the Unit to full functionality.

The DBE’s commitment to developing a Maths and Technology Strategy to reinforce the Dinaledi Schools programme has been strengthened by a Conditional Grant amounting to R70 million in 2011/12, and will reach R105.5 million in 2013/14.

Minister Motshekga also pledged to eradicate mud and other unsafe schooling structures.

“For 2011/12, we have prioritised 85 mud schools and 246 inappropriate structures. We will provide water to at least 807 schools, provide sanitation to 391 and electricity to 286 schools,” the Minister said. “For free standing facilities without adequate resources, we will build 29 administration blocks, 25 libraries and 6 laboratories.”

An allocation of R5.498 billion for the Education Infrastructure Conditional Grant has been introduced for the 2011/12 financial year which will increase to R6.207 billion in 2013/14, while the School Infrastructure Backlogs Indirect Grant of R700 million for 2011/12 will increase to R5.189 billion in 2013/14.

Plans for the central procurement of Learning and Teaching Support Materials are also underway. A national management agency will be established to manage the process of providing a textbook for every learner, in every subject.

“We have agreed with provinces on the need to consolidate the selection process of quality textbooks to ensure that we get the best books, cost-effectively, with 2014 being our target for full coverage. This process will be linked to the enforcement of a book policy which has been developed already,” said Minister Motshekga.

Teacher training also featured prominently in the budget. Through the Funza Lushaka bursary programme, we produced close to 5 534 teachers in only 4 years; over 65% are employed in Quintile 1 - 3 schools, and serve the poorest of the poor. In 2011/12, Funza Lushaka bursaries have increased to R449.44 million and will reach R893.867 million in 2013/14.

In light of the impact of poor nutrition and health on quality teaching and learning, the National School Nutrition Programme will continue with more involvement of and beneficiation to communities.

In 2011/12 the National School Nutrition programme will be expanded, after having reached 10 million learners in approximately 21 000 schools in 2010. For 2011/12, the programme’s conditional grant has increased to R915-million to cater mainly for implementation in Quintile 3 secondary schools.