Dr Naledi Mbude-Mehana, DDG for Transformation Programmes, provided an in-depth presentation on the implementation of Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education. She added that MTbBE toolkits were developed with Grade 4 Mathematics and Natural Sciences (NS) and Technology workbooks and worksheets in all languages available on the DBE website, including certificates of compliance from PanSALB for Terminography.

Ms Valencia Chiloane delivered a presentation on the 2030 Strategy for ECD programmes, highlighting the status of the Bana Pele Mass Registration Drive. “Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) must support their ECD directorates with the implementation of key strategic priorities,” she said.

DBE’s Ms Florence Modipa spoke about Non-compliance to Curriculum Policy and subject combinations.

Mr Hilton Visagie, Director for Assessment and Administration, clarified the confusion between accommodations and concessions.

Mr Ramasedi Mafoko, in his presentation on Infrastructure said that it was important for schools to conduct regular maintenance to retain an asset at an acceptable occupational and functional standard.

Mr Mareka Monyokolo from the New Leaders Foundation and his team delivered a presentation on the Data Driven Districts (DDD) Dashboard and the important role of data, captured on SA-SAMS, to help plan and improve intervention initiatives for improved learning outcomes.

Mr Paddy Padayachee, DDG for Business Intelligence, announced that the Basic Education Employment Initiate (BEEI) Education Assistants Programme, Phase V, will again be providing employment to 140,000 youth aged 18 – 34 years, as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) in the new Financial Year.

Mr James Ndlebe, Chief Director: Planning and Implementation Support, gave a presentation on the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act. “The President has, in terms of section 54 of the BELA Act, 2024 (Act No. 32 of 2024), proclaimed the commencement date of the BELA Act as 24 December 2024, with the DBE currently drafting various regulations to support the implementation of the Act.

Concluding the first online provincial engagement session for 2025 on behalf of DG Mweli, Dr Barney Mthembu, DDG for Curriculum Policy, Support and Monitoring, made an appeal to the province to make the informative presentations available to districts and schools.