Training courses for primary School Management Teams and Foundation Phase teachers at public and independent schools will be offered each week of the June/July holidays in each EMDC. There will be further courses in each EMDC during the September, as well as during the December/January holidays for those who are unable to attend training in the June/July holidays or where venues were fully booked.

The January 2004 training sessions will also accommodate new members of the teaching profession.

The preparation and training of principals, teachers and officials for the RNCS is a joint undertaking of the national Department of Education, provincial Departments of Education, higher education institutions, teacher unions and service providers.

• Training of WCED Provincial Core Training Team (PCTT) by NCTT: June 2003
• Training of School Management Teams and Foundation Phase teachers by the PCTT: from 30 June to 18 July 2003
• Training of remaining SMTs and Foundation Phase teachers by the PCTT: 29 September to 3 October 2003;
• Training of newly appointed teachers who missed the 2003 sessions: 12 to 16 January 2004
• Should there be a need for further training sessions, EMDCs will arrange afternoon and weekend training programmes. Such interventions will be determined after the June/July training sessions, and EMDCs will inform schools accordingly.
• EMDCs and Head Office will arrange training sessions for officials in their offices

The school principal, especially during a time of curriculum change, has a very important leadership role to fulfil role as curriculum manager - to staff, parents and the community.

• An overview and understanding of the design, features, principles and concepts of the RNCS
• Learning outcomes and assessment standards in learning areas
• The Teacher's Guide for the Development of Learning Programmes
• Time allocation and time-tabling
• Assessment requirements
• Curriculum Management in a school
• Administrative issues
• Management of LSM
• Development of networking and support mechanisms
• Responses to questions and concerns

An additional shorter course will be conducted for SMTs that have already attended the teacher course.

• Learning outcomes and assessment standards in learning areas
• Assessment requirements
• The Teacher's Guide for the Development of Learning Programmes
• The development of a Learning Programme, year schedule and work unit by the teacher for his/her own use
• Classroom management
• Inclusive Education
• Differentiation, including multigrade and multi-lingual classes
• Development of Follow-up arrangements for networking and support after the workshopmechanisms
• Response to questions and concerns

The teachers’ training course and the school management course will be offered simultaneously at more than one venue in each EMDC.

The training dates are

• 29 September to 3 October 2003
• 12 to 16 January 2004

Each EMDC has an operational plan that will ensure that all principals and all teachers have an opportunity to attend training. For dates and venues, see Annexure A. The registration forms (Annexures B & C) should be sent to your EMDC promptly, as the number of participants may have to be restricted in certain venues.

• The teacher training courses will start on the Monday at 9:00 sharp and end at 13:00 on the final day (Friday). On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays the course will run from 8:00 to 16:30.
• The SMT courses will start on the Monday at 9.00 sharp and end at 16.30 on the third day (Wednesday).

The WCED will reimburse transport costs to the nearest venue at departmental rates for WCED employed participants. However, participants are requested, as far as possible, to travel together.

Claims will be completed at the end of the course. In order to claim, participants will need to have their Persal numbers and the following information:

• For private vehicles: the vehicle’s details and record of kilometres travelled

• For public transport: receipts MUST be submitted

• For taxi commuters: If no receipt is issued, you are required to submit a sworn affidavit, signed by the principal, with your claim stating the following:

• Name and Persal number
• School
• Starting point and finishing point
• Fare for one trip
• Dates claimed for
• Amount claimed
• That this was the only transport option you had and /or that this was the cheapest option available to you.

NO CLAIMS MAY BE SUBMITTED AFTER THE COURSE.

Lunch and teas will be provided for all pre-registered participants. Once registered, teachers are required to honour their commitment.The keeping of the register is the responsibility of the principal or the head of an office and/or designated supervisory personnel under his.

All Foundation Phase teachers and school principals are requested to register in advance with their EMDC.  In order to ensure appropriate catering and organisational arrangements, registration closes at 16:00 on the following days:

4 August 2003:      for September 2003 training
10 November 2003:   for January 2004 training

Please be advised that those participants requesting specific venues or dates are strongly urged to register as soon as possible as the participant: facilitator ratio means numbers at courses are limited.

A number of annexures are attached.

The successful implementation of the RNCS as a national curriculum depends on a common understanding of the curriculum and adequate preparation by school managers, teachers and the relevant departmental officials.

The WCED wishes to thank all teachers who have made arrangements to attend the training during June/July holidays and trust that it will be a fruitful learning experience. We wish to emphasise the importance of attending these training courses so that together we can manage curriculum change and implementation to the advantage of all our learners. In conclusion, the Department wishes to thank principals and teachers for their support in this regard.

Heads of educational institutions are requested to ensure that the contents of this circular are brought to the attention of all relevant educators.