The dilemmas of cooperative governance in the Department of Basic Education in South Africa

Abstract

In this article, we analyse the concept of cooperative governance in terms of the dynamic relationships between national and provincial departments of education to determine their influence on education delivery in South Africa. These dynamic relationships include delegation of responsibilities, decentralisation and other concurrent functions. The concept of cooperative governance is significant because it does not find proper and adequate practical expression in the relationships between and operations of the various spheres of government and has a noticeable impact on the way in which the various spheres are supposed to deliver their mandate in education. The article is of interest to readers in education departments in South Africa and students and scholars of education governance.