NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 941
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPERS: 10/05/2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15/2013)
MrsA T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) Whether the Ministerial committee to investigate the
current promotion requirements and other related matters
that impact on the standard of the National Senior
Certificate, as gazetted in October 2012, has been
appointed; if not, why not; if so, (a) who are the members
of the committee and (b) what is the focus area within the
terms of reference of the committee of each member of the
committee;
(2) whether the work of the committee has commenced; if not,
why not; if so, (a) who has been elected as the
chairperson and (b) what are the details of the
methodology to be used by the committee to achieve the
required outcomes;
(3) whether a deadline has been determined by which the work
of the committee must be completed; if not, why not; if
so, what is the deadline;
(4) (a) what budgetary allocation has been assigned to the
committee and (b) what payment (i) has been and (ii) will
be made to each member of the committee? NW1163E
REPLY
1. Yes, the committee has been established. The Minister has approved
the nominations of members to serve on the Committee. Based on the
Ministerial approval of the nominations, the relevant persons were
contacted to establish whether they would accept the nomination before
final approval by the Minister.
All nominees accepted the invitation and the names of the members of
the Committee will be published in the Government Gazette.
a) Once the names of the appointed members have been published in
the Government Gazette it will be provided.
b) The terms of reference of the Ministerial Committee are:
(i) establish from current research and other media reports
the main criticisms addressed against the National Senior
Certificate;
(ii) conduct a comparative study of the promotion requirements
of the National Senior Certificate and other similar exit
qualifications in a few countries that are of international
repute; and
(iii) consult with key recipients of the National Senior
Certificate in the South African academic, workplace and
business environment and identify their concerns about the
National Senior Certificate and to determine how these can
be rectified in the short to medium term.
2. No
a) Once the names of the appointed members have been published in
the Government Gazette it will be provided.
b) Once the committee commences its work it will determine the
methodology to be used to achieve the required outcomes.
3. A period of six months will be allocated for the completion of this
research and the presentation of the findings and recommendations to
the Minister.
4(a) A budget for R450Â 000 has been allocated for the work of the
Ministerial Committee.
4(b) The following payment will be done to the appointed members:
(i) Members of the Ministerial Committee will be remunerated in
terms of the Public Management Financial Act - Chapter 20.
(ii) Members of the Committee will also be paid for accommodation and
travel cost incurred.
(iii) Ministerial Committee members attached to state departments will
only receive subsistence and travel costs.