(1) Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) were expected to submit their training and implementation plans in respect of the Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support (SIAS) policy by 30 August 2015.
(2) (a)(i) The Department of Basic Education (DBE) does not provide direct funding to PEDs to support the implementation of the SIAS policy and (ii) PEDs are expected to provide a budget to support schools in the implementation of the policy.
(b)(i) The provision of human resources is a provincial competence and therefore the DBE does not provide human resources to PEDs to support the implementation of the policy. PEDs are expected to use their existing resources to implement SIAS, including the use of existing therapist and psychologist posts. (ii) Similarly, PEDs are expected to provide support to schools, including training of teachers, within their existing resources.
(c) The Department will provide support (i) to PEDs and (ii) to schools by developing norms and standards for the implementation of the policy, supplying training materials and programmes, as well as implementation guidelines.