Non-Accredited Programmes

1. SGB@A Glance

is geared to induct the newly elected SGBs into their roles and functions. A@ Glance pocket cards have been translated into Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans.

SGBs are introduced to the South African Schools' Act (SASA) and all the functions pertaining to Section 20 and 21 schools. All legislation that the SGB needs become familiar with is packaged and summarised into easy to read pocket-sized SGB@A Glance cards. The SGB manual is divided into 4 sections:

1. Gives an overview of school governance at a glance and what schools need.
2. Is concerned with the Legislative Framework, Constitutional and Educational Values. It covers a whole range of Roles and Responsibilities of the SGB members, Orientation and Handover certificate and checklist. This section also deals with different types of meetings, preparing for the meetings, drawing up of an agenda, a how to conduct an effective meeting and taking proper minutes.
3. Tackles Governance and Management
4. Focuses on the challenges facing the SGB members andthe issues around HIV/Aids and Violence and Drugs. To enhance training, SGbs attending this programme are given an A5 sized copy of the South African Schools Act with selected schedules and guidelines.

 

2. Handover Process

• The Handover Process is designed in phases that equip the incoming and outgoing SGBs with skills to conduct efficient and effective handover process. It is a crucial process that takes place between an outgoing and an incoming SGB. Handin over of SGB documents, assets, projects etc. is not an event but a process. The process has 3 distinct features:
• Preparation for handover process by the outgoing SGB,
• The formal handover by the outgoing SGB to the incoming SGB,
• The orientation and review of policies, projects, contracts etc. of the new SGB on all that has been handed over to them.

Incoming SGBs are sensitised and prepared to deal with all contractual obligations of the outgoing SGBs e.g. employment contracts for ECD facilitators, leases on photocopiers, services such as lights and water taxes and many others.

One should not only limit the Handover Process to be taking place after a 3 year cycle of an SGBs existence. Handing over also happens every year when SGB office-bearer elections take place or when committees or portfolios change during the course of a particular SGB cohort.

 

3. Safety and Discipline

This programme deals with the role of the governing body in establishing a safe school environment and assisting educators in creating a disciplined school that is conducive to teaching and learning.

In this programme the role and functions of governing bodies with regard to establishing a safe school environment and assisting educators in creating a disciplined school that is conducive to teaching and learning. Although the South African Schools Act No.84 of 1996 is silent about the impact of crime and violence on schools, it does however, place the responsibility of promoting and maintaining a culture of teaching and learning on the rincipals, educators and school governing bodies. Section 20 of the Schools' Act specifically instructs the school governing body to strive towards ensuring quality education for all the learners at the school. School safety is a joint venture involving both educators and parents.