New Schools Evaluation Authority Chief Evaluator announced

I am delighted to announce that Mr David Millar has been appointed as the Chief Evaluator of the Western Cape Schools Evaluation Authority (SEA). His appointment fills the vacancy left by the passing of the first Chief Evaluator, Ms Karen Bydell, earlier this year.

The SEA is an independent entity, whose purpose is to support school improvement in the province by identifying factors that impact on performance in the areas that matter most for quality education delivery: learner achievement; teaching and learning; behaviour and safety; leadership and management; and governance, parents and community.

Its aim is to assess the true quality of education in a manner that is fair, consistent, objective and an honest reflection of how well a school is functioning with a particular focus on the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom, not simply compliance with policy.

The role of Chief Evaluator is a crucial one, as the leader charting the course of the entity and guiding a team of evaluators that work in our schools to improve the quality of education in the Western Cape.

Mr Millar has decades of experience in education as a teacher, principal, and former Director of the Metro North Education District. He holds a master’s degree in Education Planning from the University of Cape Town, and joins the SEA after having served as the Western Cape Chief Executive Officer of National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA).

I have no doubt that his wealth of experience and knowledge will be a great asset to the SEA, and to the children of our province.

Mr Millar states that he intends to promote the SEA as an authority which improves lives by raising standards in education at schools in the Western Cape, saying:

“I intend promoting the SEA as a values-based, transparent and accountable authority where children and learners come first and where standards are judged (and findings reported to the public) without fear or favour. In addition, the SEA’s policies, judgements and insights will be evidence-led. SEA staff must act with integrity and impartiality. The SEA must be accessible and engaged to our different audiences in different contexts so that we can better understand their needs and always act in the best interests of our learners.”

I wish Mr Millar the very best as he takes on the exciting new role as Chief Evaluator, and look forward to seeing the SEA go from strength to strength as we work to provide quality education for every learner, in every classroom, in every school in the Western Cape.