| 1. |
As announced in Circular 215/2003, the final policy proposals for the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) were approved last year. The notice appears in Government Gazette 25545, Notice 1407 of the 6 October 2003. It may be viewed online here (size: 211 KB) or at http://www.gov.za/gazette/notices/2003/25545.pdf . |
| 2. |
Copies of documents will be made available as follows: |
| 2.1 |
One promotional copy of the Further Education and Training (FET) NCS, containing the "Overview", the "Qualifications and Assessment Policy Framework Grades 10 -12 (General)" and individual documents for 21 subjects will be supplied to schools by the national Department of Education in March 2004. Principals are requested to ensure that every FET teacher reads the Overview, the Qualifications and Assessment Policy Framework and his or her subject document, where relevant. Thereafter the principal should keep a set of documents as reference material. |
| 2.2 |
Three working copies of the NCS will be sent to each school later this year. |
| 2.3 |
The full set of NCS documents is available on the "Further Education and Training (Schools)" page on the WCED Curriculum Web site (http://curriculum.wcape.school.za/index), under the heading "Policies, Circulars, Guidelines and Learning Support". |
| 2.3.1 |
The documents are currently available in English only, but the WCED is arranging for the translation of these documents into Afrikaans. |
| 3. |
The following documents are still being developed: |
| 3.1 |
The 11 official language documents are currently being reviewed and edited and will be sent to schools later this year. |
| 3.2 |
Versions of subject documents on the following are being compiled and will be available later this year: Hindu, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, French, Arabic, Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Hebrew and Latin. These subjects will be offered on demand. |
| 3.3 |
Technology: Mechanical, Technology: Electrical and Engineering Graphics are being aligned to similar courses in the FET band and documents on them will be distributed later this year. |
| 3.4 |
Work will start on developing subject statements in Technology: Civil and Religion Studies in March 2004. |
| 4. |
Training is already taking place as follows: |
| 4.1 |
Teachers should be spending time working on the CD ROM in the WCED OBE Multi-media Package. We look forward to feedback from teachers and principals on this process. |
| 4.2 |
A pilot study on the training of FET Life Orientation teachers in "Personal Development" is being undertaken. |
| 4.3 |
A training programme is being offered to 400 FET teachers in Career Guidance. |
| 4.4 |
Advanced Certificate of Education (ACE) courses have been arranged for teachers who will teach Mathematics Literacy. |
| 5. |
Heads of educational institutions are requested to bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all educators, learners and parents/guardians. |
| 6. |
Enquiries regarding the contents of this circular may be directed to directors and chief curriculum advisors attached to EMDCs. |
SIGNED: J.P. RAULT-SMITH
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2004:03:04
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