“The Annual National Assessment indicated that overall learner performance in numeracy and literacy was poor. This is an area of our work that is receiving urgent attention as it continues to impact negatively on our mathematics and science output in Grade 12 results.

“As a province, we are aware that if we are to address the challenge of scarce skills and critical skills in the next 10 years, learner performance in mathematics and science has to improve dramatically over the next three years,” he said.

He added that particular attention would be paid to improving school governance and management to ensure that schools created enabling environments for better performance by learners and educators.

This will include, amongst others, the training of school principals on issues of school leadership and governance.

Focus, Mabuza said, would also be on improving overall learner performance across all grades, with specific emphasis on numeracy, literacy as well as early childhood development.

“To improve performance, we will focus on introducing rigorous tools to track and monitor performance of schools. We will conduct curriculum coverage assessments by ensuring that circuit managers visit schools regularly and conduct assessment on the quarterly performance of schools.”

In previous years, the provincial Department of Education had been receiving qualified audits, however, a proud Mabuza said the province had turned the corner and the education system was stabilising.

“For the first time in many years, the Department of Education has received an unqualified audit opinion from the Auditor General, thereby attesting to sustained improvements in financial management and governance.