, PUB1601 ASSIGMENT 2 SEMESTER 2 2025 COMPLETE ANSWERS
DUE DATE: 26 SEPTEMBER 2025
The Management of South African Public Services: Responsibilities of Key Parties in
the Department of Basic Education
Introduction
Public services in South Africa are essential mechanisms through which government fulfills its
constitutional mandate to provide basic needs and socio-economic development to its citizens.
The management of public services involves multiple stakeholders who play critical roles in
ensuring that policies are effectively implemented, resources are efficiently utilized, and
services meet the needs of the population. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) serves
as an illustrative example, tasked with providing quality education to learners from Grade R to
Grade 12 across South Africa. Within this framework, three primary parties are responsible for
managing the delivery of these services: the national Department of Basic Education,
provincial education departments, and school governing bodies (SGBs). Each party carries
distinct responsibilities, which, when harmonized, ensure the effective functioning of the public
education system. This essay will examine the roles and responsibilities of these three parties
in detail.
1. National Department of Basic Education (DBE)
The national Department of Basic Education holds the overarching responsibility for education
policy formulation, strategic planning, and overall governance of the South African education
system. Its primary functions include the development and implementation of curricula,
assessment standards, and national education policies. By virtue of the Constitution of South
Africa (1996), the national government is responsible for setting uniform norms and standards
across all provinces to ensure that every child has access to quality education.
One of the key responsibilities of the national DBE is policy formulation. The department
develops legislation, regulations, and strategic frameworks that guide the functioning of
provincial education departments and schools. Policies such as the National Curriculum
Statement (NCS) and the Integrated Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Education and
Development (ISPFTED) are formulated at the national level to ensure a coherent and
standardized approach to education across South Africa. These policies provide guidance on
the content to be taught, assessment methods, and the expected outcomes for learners.
DUE DATE: 26 SEPTEMBER 2025
The Management of South African Public Services: Responsibilities of Key Parties in
the Department of Basic Education
Introduction
Public services in South Africa are essential mechanisms through which government fulfills its
constitutional mandate to provide basic needs and socio-economic development to its citizens.
The management of public services involves multiple stakeholders who play critical roles in
ensuring that policies are effectively implemented, resources are efficiently utilized, and
services meet the needs of the population. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) serves
as an illustrative example, tasked with providing quality education to learners from Grade R to
Grade 12 across South Africa. Within this framework, three primary parties are responsible for
managing the delivery of these services: the national Department of Basic Education,
provincial education departments, and school governing bodies (SGBs). Each party carries
distinct responsibilities, which, when harmonized, ensure the effective functioning of the public
education system. This essay will examine the roles and responsibilities of these three parties
in detail.
1. National Department of Basic Education (DBE)
The national Department of Basic Education holds the overarching responsibility for education
policy formulation, strategic planning, and overall governance of the South African education
system. Its primary functions include the development and implementation of curricula,
assessment standards, and national education policies. By virtue of the Constitution of South
Africa (1996), the national government is responsible for setting uniform norms and standards
across all provinces to ensure that every child has access to quality education.
One of the key responsibilities of the national DBE is policy formulation. The department
develops legislation, regulations, and strategic frameworks that guide the functioning of
provincial education departments and schools. Policies such as the National Curriculum
Statement (NCS) and the Integrated Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Education and
Development (ISPFTED) are formulated at the national level to ensure a coherent and
standardized approach to education across South Africa. These policies provide guidance on
the content to be taught, assessment methods, and the expected outcomes for learners.
