SCHOLAR TRANSPORT PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION 23 MAY 2017

Purpose To present to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on progress with the provision of learner transport.

Presentation Outline Background; Objectives of the infrastructure programme; Progress and status of Learner transport; The framework for the implementation of the policy The current status of Learner Transport provisioning Nationally; 2016/17 Report; and Learner Transport provisioning for 2017/18.

Background The learner transport policy development started a few years ago after the realisation of a policy gap. As such the environment within and the manner in which learners accessed centres of learning experienced serious challenges, among others, no services at all, unsafe and unsecure methods that were used, uncoordinated services, unscrupulous operations, non-standardised methods, to mention but a few. The following process ( with Department of Basic Education as a key partner-approved by both Minmecs) was adopted: Needs analysis Stakeholder engagement Draft Policy Gazette for final comments Final Policy FOSAD Cabinet Cabinet Implementation, M& E We are here

Key elements of the policy Institutional Framework for the implementation of learner transport; Learner transport planning; Learner transport safety and security; Criteria for learner Transport Beneficiaries; Service Design for learner transport; Procurement of learner transport services; Remuneration of learner transport operators; Funding; Modal Integration; Universal Design; Law Enforcement; and Monitoring and evaluation.

Objectives To improve access to quality education by providing safe, decent, effective, and integrated sustainable learner transport; To improve access to quality education through a coordinated and aligned transport system; To improve planning and implementation of an integrated learner transport service; To manage and oversee the implementation of an integrated learner transport service; To ensure an effective management of learner transport system; and To provide for a safe and secure transport environment for learners through co-operation and collaboration with law enforcement authorities.

Desired Outcomes Timeous delivery of service; Rate of road accidents reduced; A coordinated approach in relation to planning and implementation; Learner transport operators that adhere to road traffic regulations; Vehicle maintenance plan and technical support for emergencies; Viable and sustainable operations; Uniformity of services and tariff structure; and A coherent performance monitoring system.

Institutional Framework PROVINCE IMPLEMENTING DEPARTMENT Eastern Cape Transport Free State Gauteng Education KwaZulu-Natal Limpopo Mpumalanga Northern Cape North West Western Cape

Institutional Framework… The policy provides for the establishment of the National Inter-Departmental Committee (NIDC) to oversee the implementation of the learner transport programme. The committee is comprised of national and Provincial Departments of Transport and education. The Committee meets on quarterly basis to receive progress on the implementation of the learner transport programme. The committee reports to the Ministers of Basic Education and Transport. To this end, the NIDC has been established. Four (4) meetings were held for the 2016/17 financial year. Reports from the NIDC have been submitted to the Ministers .

Institutional Frameworks The following are standard matters addressed: Progress on implementation of the policy ; Plans for learner transport per province; Learners transported quarterly per province; Budget/financial performance per province; Accident information per quarter; Transportation of learners with disabilities; and Challenges and mitigation.

Progress on National Learner Transport Programme 2016/17

LEARNER TRANSPORT PROVISION 2016/17         PROVINCE No of learners in need of transport 2016/17 Target for 2016/17 Actual No transported Q4 % of learners transported in Q4 against the need % of learners transported against the target Eastern Cape 111 406 68 576 78 061 70% 114% Free State 9 736 8 053 11 929 123% 148% Gauteng 97 114 109 618 113% KwaZulu-Natal 71 000 47 747 67% 100% Limpopo 34 321 23 000 149% Mpumalanga 60 231 60 119 Northern Cape 27 803 22 874 24 659 108% 89% North West 52 684 37 254 37 371 71% Western Cape 57 416 55 000 58 217 101% 106% TOTAL 521 711 419 849 462 042 110%

LEARNER TRANSPORT PROVISION 2016/17    FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Province Budget 2016/17 Expenditure per Q4 % of Q4 EC R 435 000 000.00 R 460 706 460.13 105.9% FS R 40 000 000.00 R 50 419 489.27 126.0% GP R 535 896 000.00 R 681 216 162.56 127.1% KZN R 186 000 000.00 R 68 995 857.15 37.1% LP R 226 691 000.00 R 218 555 692.86 96.4% MP R 455 329 000.00 R 448 334 259.75 98.5% NC R 121 524 000.00 R 86 528 696.44 71.2% NW R 272 640 000.00 R 272 139 395.26 99.8% WC R 359 755 000.00 R 329 298 018.00 91.5% TOTAL R 2 632 835 000.00 R 2 616 194 031.42 99.4%

Policy Implementation Progress Action Responsibility Timelines Finalise Norms/Standards and Operational Guidelines for Learner Transport Department of Transport Completed Assessment of costing and funding for policy implementation Ongoing. Part of the evaluation of the programme Development of Standardised Model Contract to guide contracting authorities

Policy Implementation Progress Action Responsibility Timelines Institute National Inter-Departmental Committee (NIDC) and facilitate the provincial interdepartmental Committees Department of Transport Provinces Completed Develop and implement a targeted a National Learner Transport Road Safety Programme Department of Transport Provinces RTMC Ongoing Monitoring of the Learner Transport Programmes Implementation DOT, DBE and provinces

2017/18 National Learner Transport Plans

2016/17 and 2017/18 Demand Comparison

2017/18 Provincial Learner Transport Coverage

LEARNER TRANSPORT PROVISION 2017/18 PROVINCE No of learners identified 2017/18 Target to be transported 2017/18 BUDGET 2017/18 Eastern Cape 106 551 77 237 R 498,000,000.00 Free State 10 689 R 40,000,000.00 Gauteng 109 618 R 779,076,000.00 KwaZulu-Natal 90 000 47 747 R 190,000,000.00 Limpopo 40 268 34 049 R 274,000,000.00 Mpumalanga 60 256 60 119 R 467,448,000.00 Northern Cape 26 853 24 750 R 125,310,000.00 North West 54 059 37 371 R 287,100,000.00 Western Cape 58 000 R 380,047,000.00 TOTAL 556 294 459 580 R 3,040,981,000.00

Funding for Learner Transport

Funding shortfall

Evaluation of National Learner Transport

Evaluation of the Scholar Transport Programme The Standing Committee on Appropriations made the recommendations that the National Treasury in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Civil Society an assessment of the efficacy of funding and a comprehensive evaluation of spending and implementation of the scholar transport programme be undertaken. The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the implementation of the scholar transport programme, the efficacy of the funding model and whether learners are transported safely and on time. Additionally, this evaluation should show how funding and expenditure impacts on the programme. The evaluation will encompass the mandate and reach of the Scholar Transport Implementation Programme. The data will be reviewed from 2011/12 to 2016/17 financial years. .  

Key questions to be addressed (Relevance and Appropriateness): To what extent is the design of the STP appropriate, and to what is extent is the intervention design consistent with education & transport sectors’ priorities and policies, and partnerships with all key stakeholders. (Effectiveness): To what extent has the implementation of the Scholar Transport Program been effective in achieving its goal(s), objectives and intended outcomes? Is the programme being implemented as planned during the period of review? (Efficiency) To what extent has the implementation of the Scholar Transport Programme been efficient? (Impact) What is the impact of the Scholar Transport Program in facilitating access to education in the country.

Stakeholders identified National and Provincial Transport Departments; National and Provincial Education Department; National Treasury (NT); Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME); Statistics South Africa (STATSA); Schools and other educational institutions; and Other bodies such as teacher unions, Santaco, SABOA, SACO, EE, and other NGOs.

Project Plan: Evaluation No Actions Timelines 1 Finalization of TOR May 2017 2 Procurement of the service provider July 2017 3 Evaluation Process August 2017 to February 2018 4 Finalize the draft Report March 2018

Key Challenges

Key challenges Insufficient Funding of learner transport Based on the current spending and costing, there is an need for further funding for learner transport with attention in EC, KZN, NW, LP. Provinces to prioritize learner transport in their budgets. However, there is an need to comprehensively evaluate the programme performance in terms of its efficacy/ efficiency and to determine funding requirements and mechanisms. The evaluation of the programme will assist in determining this.

Key challenges cont… Provincial Coverage of learner transport in provinces Performance of learner transport vary from one province to the other. There are 97 714 learners that will not been be transported in the financial year 2017/18 particularly in these four provinces: Eastern Cape: 29 314 learners; KwaZulu Natal: 42 255 learners; North west: 16 688 learners; and Limpopo: 6 219 learners.

Key challenges cont… Road safety: This is particularly so in privately arranged learner transport where there is a contract between parents and operators. Use of old un-roadworthy vehicles, un-authorised services and unqualified drivers. Road safety must be implemented within the context of the national road safety strategy. Need for implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy; Pillar 3: Safer Vehicles: strengthening roadworthiness mechanisms to ensure safety of vehicles; Pillar4: Safer Road Users: strengthen law enforcement efforts; increase public engagement around road safety; involve citizens in debates around road safety and leading road safety campaigns (parents, learners, schools and operators). Implementation of Focused National Learner Transport Road Safety Programme its imperative i.t.o awareness campaigns and enforcement

Key challenges cont… Rationalization of schools Rationalisation/ closure of schools have an impact on the increasing demand for learner transport. Provinces to present plans on the integration the two programmes. Lack of uniformity in contracting and remuneration Provinces use varied method in contracting and remuneration of operators; Implementation of the model contract documents and guidelines; and The evaluation of the programme will provide solutions in terms of the appropriate remuneration model based on the performance reviews of the programme.

Interventions Department of Transport engages with different law enforcement agencies to address issues of overcrowding and un-roadworthy vehicles; Joint intervention and monitoring teams at national, provincial and local level constituted; Road safety programmes in conjunction with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC); including law enforcement and road safety awareness targeting operators, learners and parents; and Develop and enforce driver and learner code of conduct.

Recommendation Portfolio Committee considers and discusses the report.

Thank You