NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION 80
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 28/02/2012
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 05/2012
Mrs J D Kilian (Cope) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
Whether she intends to undertake performance assessments of (a) principals and (b) educators in order to evaluate the quality of educational output; if not, why not; if so, what (i) timelines does she intend to apply and (ii) are the further relevant details? NO 514E
REPLY
Yes, the Departments of Basic Education as well as Provincial Education Departments do undertake performance assessments of (a) principals and (b) educators in order to evaluate the quality of educational output. This is done in terms of the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS), which is applicable to both Principals and Teachers. The system has been in place since 2003.
The Department of Basic Education is currently in a process of reviewing the IQMS in line with the resolution taken at the teacher development summit in 2009.
(a) For principals, the plan is to enable them to enter into performance agreement with the department. Through these agreements, principals will be held accountable for the performance of their schools, and the achievement of educational outcomes. This system will also apply to deputy principals. The agreements and the evaluation instruments have been developed, and are currently being negotiated with the Unions in the Education Labour Relations Council.
(i) Regarding the time lines, the plan is to introduce the contracts in the current year (2012), after an agreement has been reached with the unions.
(b) For educators, the plan is to introduce a new Teacher Performance Appraisal system, which will replace the current IQMS. This system will apply to Post level 1 and 2 educators respectively. The new system has been developed, and is currently being negotiated in the Education Labour Relations Council.
(ii) Regarding the time lines, the plan is to introduce the new system in 2013, after an agreement has been reached with the unions. This will also allow the department to prepare teachers for implementation of the new system.