Department of Basic Education explained

Agency Name:Department of Basic Education
Formed:2009
Preceding1:Department of Education
Jurisdiction:Government of South Africa
Headquarters:Sol Plaatje House, Pretoria
Coordinates:-25.7417°N 28.1889°W
Employees:730 (2009)
Budget:R27,000 million (2021/22)
Minister1 Name:Siviwe Gwarube
Minister1 Pfo:Minister of Basic Education
Minister2 Name:Dr. Makgabo Reginah Mhaule
Minister2 Pfo:Deputy Minister of Basic Education
Chief1 Name:Hubert Mathanzima Mweli
Chief1 Position:Director-General: Basic Education
Type:Department
Keydocument1:South African Schools Act, 1996
Website:www.education.gov.za

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is one of the departments of the South African government. It oversees primary and secondary education in South Africa. It was created in 2009 after the election of President Jacob Zuma, when the former Department of Education was divided into the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The political head of the department is the Minister of Basic Education; this is Angie Motshekga. The department oversees all the schools in South Africa, sets up the curriculum for the different grades. DBE works with many stakeholders such as ISASA and NAISA etc. The department is headquartered in Sol Plaatje House, named after the author Sol Plaatje, in Pretoria.[1] This South African ministry has been heavily criticized, especially during the 2012 textbook crisis.[2]

In the 2010 national budget, the department received an appropriation of 6,166.2 million rand, and had 730 employees.[3] In 2019, the department obtained a record matric pass rate of 81.3%.[4]

In 2020, the brand partnered up with eMedia Investments to introduce an educational channel to help learners known as DBE TV on the OpenView platform.[5] Thereafter, they launched a new free-to-air initiative to help out matrics with their exams known as Woza Matrics. In 2020, they had a tough year dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, where schools had to close its doors and open them again.

External links

Notes and References

  1. "Contact Us." Department of Basic Education. Retrieved on 18 November 2011. "Physical Address Sol Plaatje House 222 Struben Street Pretoria 0001"
  2. Web site: The causes of the Limpopo textbook crisis - Helen Zille - NEWS & ANALYSIS Politicsweb. www.politicsweb.co.za. 20 June 2017. en.
  3. Book: Estimates of National Expenditure 2010 . National Treasury . Pretoria . 978-0-621-39079-7 . 17 February 2010 . Vote 14: Basic Education . http://www.treasury.gov.za/documents/national%20budget/2010/ene/vote14.pdf . 30 August 2010.
  4. News: 2019 DBE Matric Results announcement . Moodley . Preggie . . 2020.
  5. Web site: Entertainment Inside Us: DBE TV to be Added on the OpenView Platform. 31 March 2020.