A two-day training session on Data Driven Districts Dashboard (DDD) programme took place on the 22-23 August 2017 for Personal Assistants (PAs) and Office Managers from Head Office and Districts at Mpekweni Resort near Port Alfred

The DDDD programme is managed by New Leader Foundation and it is a Data visualization aimed at assisting the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) in identifying the overall performance of schools. This means the Department will be able to pin point the problem areas at schools and will be able to assist those that are in need before they get to a point of no return.

“This is not only meant for underperforming schools, DDD programme is also a tool that will help the ECDoE to identify those schools that are performing well,” said Monki Gabashane from New Leader Foundation. “If the DDD is used correctly, it will help the Office Managers and Personnel Assistants to give accurate data to their managers, which will help them a great deal when reporting about the progress of their schools,’’ added the energic Gabashane who was one of the facilitators on the day. 

Gabashane explained that the only thing that is important with this programme is that the data capturers will be able to feed the system with the correct information as everyone will rely on it. “If the data is false that means the report will be incorrect. It is of outmost importance that the correct information is given by schools”

When asked about the training and what they have learned, Mandisa Notwala from Chris Hani West District said, “it was useful, informative and relevant to my work”. “I will no longer run after colleagues for reports, with just a click of a button, I will get all the data I need”.  Zisiwe Ntotela from Head Office added, “it was really fruitful and informative”.  It reduces the level of visits to districts and we will be able to draw reports from the system and also to confront the schools if there is no educator or learner attendance. This system also gives us an opportunity to assist the schools to fill gaps”.