1. education
Department of Education
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Implementation of the National Framework on Teacher Education and Development

2. Submissions: Status Update
The NFTE was released with a return date of 8 November
A total of 19 submissions have been received. SADTU asked for a special concession to make their submission only on the 21st November.
Submissions received to date are currently being analysed. The process will be completed as soon as the outstanding submission from SADTU has been received.

3. First steps towards implementation
Three key areas prioritised by the DoE to run alongside analysis of public comments and preparing final copy of NFTE:
Developing concept document for “Bursary” programme and teacher recruitment campaign;
Working with HEIs in readiness for large-scale teacher IPET and CPTD programmes, with special emphasis on identified priority areas; (meeting scheduled for 21 November)
Working with SACE on the conceptualisation of a management system for the professional development of teachers and in particular the management of Professional Development points. (Concept document and plan already received from SACE; meeting with DoE management scheduled for 27 November).

4. The new bursary programme for teachers: the concept
Like the earmarked allocation in NSFAS, to function as an incentive scheme to improve the recruitment of students for initial teacher education;
To only support priority fields where teachers are in especially high demand;
Bursary holders to sign service contracts with PDEs;
Bursaries and service linked contracts therefore to enable bursary holders to secure both a professional qualification and a career path,
Ancillary aim of programme to speed up recruitment of such priority teachers into the system.

5. The new bursary programme for teachers: funding
The MTEF allocation:
“The Department of Education will implement a new R700 million bursary scheme for prospective educators over the MTEF period (2007/08 – 2009/10), through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, targeted at student teachers in fields such as mathematics, science, technology and the foundation phase. The first 900 students are expected to complete a one-year postgraduate diploma in 2007/08”
Medium Term Budget Policy Statement 2006, p61

6. The new bursary programme for teachers: funding
The National Treasury’s letter of allocation to the DoE provides for R120m for 2007/08, R180m in 2008/09 and R400m in 2009/10.
An audit of current costs (covering registration, tuition fees, book allowance, travel allowance and residence fees or approved accommodation/meal costs) indicate that a realistic unit cost for planning purposes would be R per annum for a full cost bursary for 2007/
Assuming inflation at 4.4% and 4.5% in the following two years the unit cost for planning purposes could be R in 2008 and R in 2009.
Assuming the National Treasury Funding allocations and the notional bursary costs suggested above, the headcount number of bursars on the programme per year would be 3 000, and in the three years respectively. (These would be enrolment figures covering all years of study and therefore not outputs.)

7. The new bursary programme for teachers: Targeting
Priority areas to be considered are: Mathematics, Science, Technology (including ICT), Indigenous Languages, English Language and the Foundation Phase.
Students from rural areas to be given preference.
While the net gain in HEI education enrolments may be fairly modest in the 3 years, new entrants into the teaching profession in these critical areas could represent a significant increase – because of the bursary link to service contracts.

8. The new bursary programme for teachers: Targeting
Funding complete programmes:
A one-year PGCE;
A three-year BA or BSc degree plus one-year PGCE; or
A four-year Bed.
Funding Partial programmes:
Complete a three-year BA or BSc and then take a PGCE (such students may require a bursary for two or three years);
Complete a four-year Bed degree (such students may require a bursary for one, two or three years

9. The new bursary programme for teachers: Management
The DoE is accountable for the funds allocated to this programme.
The NSFAS management has however been consulted and is willing and expecting to manage the programme on behalf of the DoE. It has the capacity, the experience, the information systems and the track record to manage the programme efficiently and to provide feedback data and reports to the DoE.
The NSFAS would however not be able to select the bursars on behalf of the PDEs or the DoE.

10. The new bursary programme for teachers: Critical next steps
Confirming the NSFAS as the managing agency for the new bursary scheme with a Ministerial remit letter that sets out requirements and expectations;
Finalise programmes and priority areas to be targeted in 2007 as well as the HEIs to offer them (?) and agree a provisional allocation of bursaries to each.
Drafting bursary selection criteria in consultation with PDEs and advised by Faculties of Education at HEIs;
Contracting services of an experienced academic administrator with knowledge and understanding of Faculties of Education to project manage the inception and launch of the programme and establish procedures for its successful continuation

11. Recruitment Campaign
Need to market bursaries as well as promote teaching as a career in time for next academic year.
Meeting with HEIs to advise on their selection and admissions timelines scheduled for 21 November.
Appointment of a marketing company to design and implement a marketing and recruitment campaign to cover the period until the closing date for admissions of HEIs for 2007 to be considered.