The Eastern cape Department of Education held a two-day training session for 120 Circuit Managers, on the Policy Development Areas in line with the functions and responsibilities of School Governing Bodies (SGBs) as stipulated in the South African Schools Act, at the Mandla Makupula Education Leadership Institute in East London.

The Department has taken note that schools do not have school policies and those that do exist do not comply with the standards of working policy. 

It has also been observed that SGBs do not know their responsibilities related to policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

To empower Circuit Managers on policy development and how it should be applied in a school setting, they have been trained in the following 6 areas: Finance and Asset Management, Curriculum Management, Leadership and Management Framework on School Functionality, School Resourcing Management and Development and lastly School Environment and Safety.

When talking to newly appointed Circuit Manager, Sandisile Sibenya from Joe Qabi, Mount Fletcher CMC, Ukhahlamba Circuit, he said; “This training has been highly beneficial, mainly because circuit management have a gap on the management of policies, now we get to be capacitated on the legal frameworks for school functionality, mainly to advance learner attainment and a clean audit.”

Sibenya highlighted that; “This will assist us in planning for the implementation of circuit improvement plans.” 

He also committed himself into taking the information back for the capacitation of SGB”s, SMT’s and Curriculum Advisors on their core function inline with the relevant  legislations and policies.”

One of the programs objectives is to enhance SGB participation and involvement in policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, thus the department has planned to train SGB members in this financial year.