STAKEHOLDERS FORGE STRONGER COLLABORATIONS FOR A BETTER EDUCATION ECO SYSTEM AND LEARNER SUCCESS

The Eastern Cape Department of Education successfully concluded a two-day Stakeholder Structures Extended Meeting held in Gqeberha from 18 to 19 November 2025. The session brought together the Eastern Cape Education Advisory Council (ECEAC), District Education Forums (DEFs), and the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC), along with other internal and external partners who play a central role in strengthening the province’s education ecosystem.

Over the course of the programme, stakeholders reflected on their shared mandate to advance quality learning and teaching across the province. The meeting created a platform for frank, constructive dialogue on how these structures can better align their work with the Department’s Strategic Plan and the evolving needs of schools and communities. Delegates engaged on a range of strategic priorities, including:

• Enhancing stakeholder coordination and communication
• Strengthening accountability mechanisms
• Addressing persistent system challenges such as infrastructure backlogs, scholar transport, and resource distribution
• Supporting interventions that target learning recovery and improved learner outcomes
• Resource allocation for structures to fully function

A significant part of the programme centred on policy discussions related to Winter and Spring School programmes. Participants explored how these catch-up interventions can be made more effective, better structured, and more responsive to learner needs. The sessions emphasised cross-sector collaboration and the importance of data-driven planning to ensure the success of these academic support initiatives.

The extended meeting reaffirmed the importance of collective effort in improving education outcomes. Stakeholders committed to strengthening collaboration at all levels, from provincial offices to district and school structures to ensure that the system operates in a cohesive and coordinated manner.

The gathering also highlighted the critical role of external partners, civil society organisations, unions, faith-based groups, and business stakeholders whose contributions continue to complement the Department’s work. Their participation demonstrated a shared willingness to “roll up their sleeves” in support of learners and educators across the Eastern Cape.

The Department will consolidate the inputs, recommendations, and resolutions from the two-day engagement into a unified action plan to guide implementation over the next cycle. This plan will focus on strengthening governance structures, improving service delivery, and ensuring that every intervention contributes to the Department’s broader goal of delivering quality and equitable education.

The success of this extended stakeholder engagement session underscores a clear message: education is a societal responsibility, and progress is strongest when all partners work together in a coordinated and integrated manner.