The number of burglaries in Gauteng schools has dropped dramatically, Education MEC Barbara Creecy said while delivering her budget speech in the provincial legislature at the weekend.
Creecy was reacting to DA spokesman on education Khume Ramulifho’s assertion that school safety strategy was ineffective.
Ramulifho had said: “Schools with computer labs, about 768 burglaries reported to date. School patrollers deployed throughout the province, but it is unclear what qualifies one school to get patrollers while a neighbouring school has none, eg Noordgesig Secondary School has no single patroller, but the school was burgled twice last year and this year respectively.”
Creecy disputed Ramulifho’s statement. She said 47 burglaries were reported in Gauteng schools in January last year.
The number had fallen to nine in January 2012.
Creecy said the drop was due to the deployment of patrols at no-fee schools in the province.
Earlier, she had told the legislature her department would continue with the Secondary School Intervention Programme (SSIP) for grades 10 to 12.
“We will focus on improving learner performance in 10 key subject areas where performance is weakest. In addition, we will also focus on language skills and examination preparation.
“This year we will also intensify our support for Grade 12 learners by expanding the programme from 391 underperforming schools to 431 schools performing under 80 percent in the 2011 Senior Certificate Examination.
“This is to ensure that the department achieves the 2012 target of an 81 percent pass rate in the province,” Creecy said.
She said the SSIP for Grade 12 was focused on Saturday and school-holiday programmes.
The programme focuses on 10 subjects: mathematics, maths literacy, physical science, life science, English first additional language, economics, history, geography, accounting and business studies.
“The programme for grades 10 and 11 will run over the school holidays. The Grade 10 and 11 programme focuses on providing extra tuition and exam support in mathematics, maths literacy, physical science and accounting.
“In addition, the department provides a supplementary examination support programme for failed matriculants to prepare them for examinations,” Creecy said.
She said her department had identified 431 priority schools whose performance in maths, science and technology (MST) in grades 10 to 12 would be improved.
“These schools will receive MST resources, maths and mental maths kits, science microscopes and technology kits to improve the quality of learning and teaching.
“The province has also received a grant for Dinaledi schools (aimed at improving maths and science performance).
“The purpose of the grant is to promote mathematics and physical science in selected schools.
“The Dinaledi schools grant is benefiting 101 schools with over 125 000 learners.”
Creecy said the programme would show an improvement in the number of Grade 12 pupils performing in maths and science.
“A budget of R156.3 million is allocated to the SSIP.
“This amount includes an amount allocated to teacher ‘just-in-time’ training.”
The SSIP funding includes support for the Saturday programme to Grade 12 pupils.
The holiday programme will include grades 8, 9, 10 and 11 in selected underperforming subjects.
“The Dinaledi schools interventions are funded via conditional grants at R20.1m,” Creecy added.
The Star