1. This curriculum minute supplements Circular 0016/2004 of 11 March 2004.
2. Participants must be reminded to bring copies of the RNCS to the above-mentioned sessions (refer to par. 3.2 of the above-mentioned circular). Principals, members of school management teams (SMTs) and Intermediate Phase teachers must familiarise themselves with the content of these documents in advance in order to derive the maximum benefit from the sessions.
3. In addition, participants must be requested to bring with them at least one copy per school of each of the following policy documents which have been distributed to schools:

  • Policy Handbook for Educators - ELRC 2003

  • Education White Paper 6: Special Needs Education, July 2001

  • National Policy on Religion and Education, 11 September 2003

  • Language in Education Policy, 14 July 1997

  • General Education and Training Assessment Guidelines (WCED, Nov 2003)

  • Teacher’s guide for the development of Learning Programmes (all learning areas). These are being sent directly to schools from the National Department of Education.

  • RNCS Learning Area: Intermediate Phase: Grade 4-6 Resource Material: 2004, WCED
4. Principals are reminded that they have been encouraged to send their entire Intermediate Phase teacher complement team to the same course. The benefit to the school will be that nearly two days of planning will be done at the course and this will give teachers a head start in planning for 2005 in terms of the Intermediate Phase learning programmes and work schedules per grade for the school. Certificates will be issued for full attendance at the RNCS course.
5. Schools are advised to confirm acceptance of their registration with their EMDC as several sessions were over-subscribed. As this situation is not conducive to good training and interaction, EMDCs have arranged for some participants to move to Week 2. Once logistical arrangements have been finalised, venues will not be able to accommodate unregistered or additional participants. If an educator has registered for a course, but does not attend, the cost of the meals will be claimed from the school concerned.
6. SMTs must set time aside for all Intermediate Phase teachers in the school to meet for at least three days (±24 hours) before the end of August for joint planning to ensure that teachers will be prepared for the implementation of the RNCS in January 2005. SMTs must arrange this and future planning time in such a way that the context and needs of the school are accommodated and teaching and learning are not disrupted.
7. The co-operation of all SMTs and the Intermediate Phase teachers in the above regard will be greatly appreciated and will ensure the successful implementation of the RNCS in the Intermediate Phase in 2005.


SIGNED: P.A. VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2004:06:29