Abstract:
The Public Service Act 30 of 2007 provides for national and provincial departments. In terms of this act each province has its own basic education department. Provincial Departments of Basic Education are sub-divided into district offices that play an important role in the communication between the provincial head office and the educational institutions under its authority. The task of the district office is to collaborate with school principals and educators to promote instruction and learning and to render management and professional support to achieve excellence in instruction and learning. According to the National Development Plan of the National Planning Commission (2011) education district offices are regarded as sub-structures of the Provincial Department of Basic Education. The district office represents the Provincial Education Department in the day-to-day administrative and professional functions of schools. Since the South African Schools Act does not make any provision for district offices, one may conclude that the brief of district offices is only to assist the head of the Provincial Department of Basic Education in the performance of his / her duties. According to the National Planning Commission National Development Plan for 2030 the district office has to provide support to schools to improve educational practices in schools and to ensure that communication and the sharing of information with schools and authorities occur. This qualitative study was conducted from an interpretative paradigm with the purpose of investigating the education law perspectives on the role of education district office officials with regard to the finances of public schools. The research contributes to the understanding of the role and responsibility of the education district office officials regarding the finances of public schools and makes recommendations for practice advancement and further research.
