The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is moving ahead with bold new plans to support and develop schools in the Province.

The Department plans to devolve responsibility for a wide range of support services to Education Management Development Centres (EMDCs) in seven new regions in the Western Cape by July 1.

The WCED appointed seven directors to run the EMDCs earlier this year. They are currently undergoing intensive training in the department’s head office in Cape Town.

The project is about to enter a new phase with the appointment of 123 key educator personnel who will form the core of the new EMDCs. The WCED will advertise the posts this weekend (April 28 - 29, 2001).

The EMDC teams will focus on developing schools to become efficient and effective learning establishments, with much greater capacity to manage their own affairs.

The new EMDC appointees will form multi-functional teams, which will work closely with schools in assisting them to achieve their objectives and in solving their problems.

EMDC services will range from curriculum development and support to specialised learner and educator support, and advice and assistance in the fields of management, governance and administration.

The seven new regions administered by the WCED are West Coast/Winelands, Overberg/Breede River, South Cape/Karoo, and in the Cape metropolitan area, Metropole Central, Metropole East, Metropole North and Metropole South.

The Head of Education in the Western Cape, Mr Brian O’Connell, said the WCED was not creating new posts for these appointments.

"The Department had 2080 posts available to it, outside of schools, when the WCED was formed in 1995. However, the Department knew that it would have to be restructured, and opted not to fill all these posts until our plans have been finalised."

"Our new establishment allows for 1713 posts outside schools, 367 fewer than allocated in 1995. We do not intend filling all these posts at this stage. In addition to 123 key educator personnel based in our new regional EMDCs, we plan to appoint 46 head office staff to support education in the Province as a whole. This will bring our EMDC and head office staff complement to 1508."

The seven EMDCs will replace nine Area Offices. Mr O’Connell said the Area Offices were mainly administrative units, providing limited development support.

"Now, with the creation of the regional EMDCs, and by strengthening Head Office support, we are in a much better position to provide the focused, well-organised development services needed by our schools."