| 1. |
This circular replaces Circular 0029/2011. |
| 2. |
Submission of claim forms
Principals of schools with Grade R and heads of early childhood development (ECD) institutions are reminded that subsidy applications are to be submitted to the local education district office by no later than the following dates:
| Term |
Due date |
| 1st Term of 2014 |
Friday, 14 February 2014 |
| 2nd Term of 2014 |
Friday, 9 May 2014 |
| 3rd Term of 2014 |
Friday, 8 August 2014 |
| 4th Term of 2014 |
Friday, 24 October 2014 |
|
| 2.1 |
Schools that fail to adhere to the above dates run the risk of forfeiting their subsidies. |
| 2.2 |
Schools requiring assistance with the completion of the subsidy claim forms may contact the Head: IMG Co-ordination and Advice at the relevant education district office. |
| 2.3 |
All supporting documents and evidence of expenditure must be attached to the claims. |
| 3. |
Copies of attendance registers
Copies of the previous term’s attendance registers which were not submitted, must be submitted with the next claim.
|
| 4. |
Registration of schools on EMIS & Grade R learners on CEMIS |
| 4.1 |
In accordance with the National Norms and Standards for Grade R funding (Government Notice No. 30679 of 18 January 2008), all ordinary public and independent ECD schools offering Grade R must be registered on the EMIS and be in possession of a valid registration certificate. This certificate is valid for only five years. |
| 4.2 |
All Grade R learners must be registered on CEMIS. |
| 4.3 |
All Grade R practitioners must be registered with the South African Council for Educators (SACE). More information is available on the SACE website at www.sace.org.za |
| 4.4 |
All Grade R practitioner information must also be registered on CEMIS and included in the Annual Survey. |
| 5. |
No-fee schools offering Grade R |
| 5.1 |
No-fee schools that receive Grade R funding from the state are not allowed to charge school fees for Grade R learners (See National Financial Management Guidelines in Respect of Schools Offering Grade R Classes, October 2009, page 4). |
| 5.2 |
Parents may be requested to make voluntary contributions. |
| 5.3 |
However, it must be emphasised that these contributions are not compulsory and may not be used to exclude learners whose parents are not able to make such contributions. |
| 6. |
Annual financial statement
In terms of Section 55 of the Public Finance Management Act, No. 29 of 1999, all educational institutions that receive funding from the state must keep full and proper records of their financial affairs, and annually submit an audited financial statement to their executive authority – in this case the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). In this regard, all ECD institutions must submit an annual audited financial statement, relating to the previous academic year, to their local education district office before the end of May each year. Failure to do so will effectively delay the next subsidy payment to the institution. |
| 7. |
Payment of Grade R practitioners’ salaries
|
| 7.1 |
All schools are reminded that all Grade R practitioners must receive the full 80% subsidy allocation which is transferred bi-annually. |
| 7.2 |
The Grade R practitioners at NQ 1, 2 and 3 schools are entitled to the full 80% subsidy allocation, even if that amount is more than the minimum. |
| 7.3 |
School governing bodies of NQ 4 and NQ 5 schools are requested to augment the Grade R practitioner’s salary so that the practitioner receives an amount which is more than the minimum of R 6 000.00 per month. |
| 7.4 |
Furthermore, SGBs must register with SARS as employers. The UIF and PAYE must be deducted from the Grade R practitioner’s salary and paid over to the relevant government departments. |
| 8. |
Number of Grade R learners allowed per class
Recent audits at selected sites have confirmed that a class size of more than 30 learners negatively affects the quality of education in a Grade R class. As from January 2012, CAPS was implemented in the Grade R classes and therefore schools are reminded that the maximum number of Grade R learners allowed per class is 30. (Learner: Educator ratio = 30:1)
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| 9. |
The content of this circular must be brought to the attention of all involved with Grade R at public and ECD independent schools. |
SIGNED: PA VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2013:11:19
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