07 Dec 2014

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane has told parliament that his ministry has 19 principal education secretaries countrywide.

Mr Tsogwane said all of them possessed the requisite qualifications stipulated in the Department of Local Government Service Management Directive No 13 of 1997 (Scheme of Service for Education Cadre).

He said the operational scheme of service stipulated that the principal education secretary at D4 be the highest position in the progression ladder.

However, he said the principal education secretaries qualified for promotion to any senior position above principal education secretary level in the public service for which they would meet the promotion requirements (academic experience).

However, he said such promotion was was due to the availability of posts.

Mr Tsogwane said the requisite at entry level was a primary teachers certificate plus five years teaching experience two of which must have been at senior teacher level, or diploma in primary education or equivalent plus two years teaching experience or a degree in primary education or equivalent qualification.

For progression he said between scales was limited to a minimum of two years subject to availability of vacancies and satisfactory performance.

MP for Ramotswa Mr Samuel Rantuana had asked the minister to state the number of principal education secretaries possess requisite qualifications as per approved scheme of service.

He also asked why these officers have still not been considered for promotion like their predecessors who were promoted through promotional boards in 2010 and 2012. ENDS