Diverting his energies to ensure that the trajectory of a “system on the rise” is upheld throughout the education system, Mr Hubert Mathanzima Mweli, the Director-General of Basic Education took to the provinces on the second round of provincial engagements in August 2017.
In his engagement with provinces, the Director-General clearly articulated his view that the purpose of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) conducting these engagements is to refocus the sector towards achieving the important goals set out in the Action Plan to 2019: Towards the Realisation of Schooling 20130. When asked about the impact of these engagements, Mr Mweli said with confidence that they “encourage the provincial officials to become even more accountable”. Provincial officials viewed the Director-General’s engagement as a “game-changer”, providing them a platform to share best practice and seek collective guidance on addressing challenges.
Being a “hands-on” leader, with a perceptive understanding of the mechanics of the system, Mr Mweli was able to provide provinces with clear, unambiguous guidance on the four key deliverables that align with the four quarters of the school calendar year; which frame the tasks for each quarter.