Description

Learner Transport Policy meetings with CVA Team and Department of Education in Umvoti, South Africa.
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Policy Discussion meeting held in Umvoti ADP on the 10th September 2013
The policy discussion meeting was facilitated for CVA Facilitation team at Umvoti ADP on the 10th September 2013. There were 19 participants including two representatives from the Department of Education i.e. Inspector and the Circuit Manager from Umvoti Circuit office (Mr Myaka and Ms Mhlongo). The official from Umzinyathi Education District was expected to join the meeting ultimately there was apology for inability to attend.

The CVA Coordinator explained the purpose of the meeting and briefly described the CVA model for the benefit of Education officials as they had not been orientated before. Monitoring standards and scorecard were described as important tools that will help ensure communities benefit from Learner Transport policy. Mr Myaka was then requested to give a brief description of the policy before participants can be given the opportunity to ask questions, as most of them already had questions raised during CVA workshop held in May 2013.

It was shared that there are only 15 out of approximately 575 schools under Umzinyathi Education District, that currently benefit from learner transport support. The officials acknowledged that there is a huge gap between the promised service and the actual services rendered. The reason mentioned was insufficient budget. Mr Myaka also shared some plans that the government is intending to implement i.e. the transformation of the schooling system – whereby schools with low enrolment will be combined. He shared the challenges those schools face e.g. educators find themselves combining and simultaneously educating learners from various grades in one classroom. Hence, it looks like learner transport issue might recur.

The members of the CVA Facilitation team had the opportunity to ask questions that aim to address the issue of poor delivery of learner transport service. The officials tried to answer some of the questions, unfortunately they could not answer most of them – they could not explain what criteria education used to select learners eligible for transport support. The officials also did not have the clue in terms of the implementation of the current learner transport policy. The policy document has the page explaining the steps that the department would follow towards supporting learners with transport in January 2014. The plan includes submission of the lists of learners from schools as well as preparing budget thereof. The CVA Facilitation team reported their visit to schools and they learnt that schools have no idea about the plan.

Learner Transport Policy Dialogue between Education officials and CVA Facilitation team is in progress in Umvoti ADP.

The CVA Facilitation team appreciated World Vision for creating the space for them to engage with the Department of Education. More education issues were identified during discussion i.e. lack of water supply in schools – learners drink water from the same source where livestock drink.
The Education officials are responding to the Ward Councillor’s questions on the scarcity of water and OVC issues in schools.

In closing, the following recommendations and commitments were shared:
o The Education officials committed to invite Ms Gigaba who works directly in the Infrastructure development unit at Umzinyathi Education District, to come and address the participants in the next meeting.
o Education officials were requested to sensitize their colleagues about the need to avail themselves for CVA orientation workshop.
o The officials committed to submit the report about the meeting to the district. They would also follow up if the district does have the copy of the policy in question.
o The Education officials committed to attend the war rooms as the participants indicated and complained about their consistent absence.
o World Vision was advised to invite Ward Councillors through the office of the Speaker, to ensure good attendance.
o There was a request for the involvement of all key community structures in CVA meetings like the current policy discussion i.e. SGBs and Ward Councillors.