NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 799
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPERS: 26/04/2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13/2013)
MrsA T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) What are the reasons why she has investigated mechanisms, other
than the signing of attendance registers, to monitor the
attendance of educators;
(2) why she considers the biometric system to be appropriate;
(3) (a) when, (b) where and (c) at what cost will the system be
piloted;
(4) what the cost will be to implement the system in all schools;
(5) whether she is investigating any other alternative systems of
attendance monitoring; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW1012E
REPLIES:
1) What are the reasons she has investigated mechanisms, other than the
signing of attendance registers, to monitor the attendance or
otherwise of educators?
As part of the strategy to enhance accountability in the Sector;
methods of monitoring Time and Attendance of teachers is being
researched. It is envisaged that whichever method is ultimately
chosen, it will be reliable and will exert greater control over staff
time and attendance records by preventing staff from clocking in for
each other and ensuring data flows to one central database. Managers
at schools, districts, provinces and national levels must be able to
draw reports to facilitate management and planning processes.
This new tool should not be characterised as a policing mechanism, but
rather as a means to gather data on teacher attendance in order to
identify and develop effective methods to enhance teacher attendance
and address challenges around absenteeism.
2) Why she considers the biometric system appropriate?
The biometric system is but ONE method of monitoring time and
attendance of teachers that is being investigated.
3) (a) When, (b) where and (c) at what cost will the system be piloted?
(a) The process of piloting a Time and Attendance system will take
place once all options have been properly investigated and the final
method is decided upon.
(b) Only once (a) has taken place, will details as to when and where
the pilot will be rolled out be made available.
c) The cost at this point in time is not known since investigation
into different methods is still taking place.
4) What the cost will be to implement the system in all schools;
The DBE is currently investigating possible methods of monitoring Time
and Attendance of teachers and the costs associated with
implementation in all schools. Once this has been finalized, we will
be better positioned to provide realistic estimates.
5) Whether she is investigating any other alternative systems of
attendance monitoring; if so, what are the relevant details?
Alternative methods of monitoring Time and Attendance are at the
initial stages of investigation and include the use of the South
African School Administration Management System (SASAMS) and cellphone
technology.