The Minister of Education, Ms Naledi Pandor, MP, after consultation with the Council of Education Ministers, published the draft norms and standards for Grade R funding for public comment.

For a number of years, the provincial departments of education have been funding Grade R in a few public schools. In 2001, Government released White Paper 5, which explained how Grade R could be expanded and improved across the country. Government does not have enough funds to introduce Grade R to all public primary schools in the country all at one time.

For this reason, the White Paper explained that Government will gradually introduce Grade R across more schools, in such a way that by the year 2010, all public primary schools will offer Grade R funded by Government. When new schools are included in the new system, Government will make sure that it is the schools in the poorest area that will be given preference.

The closing date for public comments is: 30 November 2005.

Copies of the document could be obtained from the Department of Education’s web site www.education.gov.za under "Current News".