1. INTRODUCTION

This circular is a follow-up to Circular 0071/2004 which was sent to schools in November 2004. The RNCS will be implemented in Grades 7 in 2006. Training courses for those Grade 7 teachers at public and independent schools will be offered during the July holiday in each EMDC. These courses will only be for those teachers who have not attended the RNCS courses in 2003 or 2004. Schools were required to submit the names of teachers by 10 December 2004.
2. TRAINING PROGRAMME

The training of teachers and officials for the implementation of the RNCS in the Senior Phase is a joint undertaking of the national Department of Education, provincial departments of education, higher education institutions, teacher unions and service providers. The provincial training programme entails the following:

  • Training of the WCED Provincial Core Training Team (PCTT) by the National Core Training Team (NCTT): April - June 2005.

  • Training of Grade 7 teachers by the PCTT: from 11 to 15 July 2005.

  • Training of officials and service providers by EMDC and Head Office personnel during 2005.
3. TRAINING FOR SENIOR PHASE: GRADE 7 TEACHERS
3.1 All Grade 7 teachers at public and independent schools should have attended a teacher training course before implementation of the RNCS starts in January 2006. One of the outcomes of the course is the development of a Work Schedule from an exemplar Learning Programme, i.e. planning a programme for the grade.
3.2 The course for Grade 7 teachers will be a 4½-day course and will include the following:

  • Learning outcomes and assessment standards in learning areas

  • Assessment requirements: progression and support issues

  • The development of learning programmes for learning areas

  • Ways to deal with the situation that while Grade 7 is in the Senior Phase, Grade 7 is often in a different school to Grades 8 and 9

  • The development of a learning programme (plan for the phase), work schedule (plan for the grade for the year) and lesson plans by the teacher for his or her own use

  • Classroom management

  • Inclusive education

  • Differentiation, including multigrade and multilingual classes

  • Follow-up arrangements for networking and support after the workshop

  • Response to questions and concerns
3.3 Participants are requested to bring with them either the school's promotional set or their own working set of the Revised National Curriculum Statement, as well as writing materials. Further support material in the form of a WCED summary guideline for the development of learning programmes will be made available at the course.
3.4 During the second term exemplar learning programmes for each learning area are to be sent to schools. These should also be brought to the July course.
3.5 Afternoon workshops on the 8 learning areas are being arranged by the EMDCs during the second term of 2005. Guidelines on each of the learning areas, which include tables of the learning outcomes and assessment standards in a format indicating progression for the phase, will be made available at these workshops.
4. DATES, TIMES AND VENUES
4.1 The teachers' training course will be offered at more than one venue in each EMDC. DATES AND TIMES FOR ALL VENUES ARE THE SAME 
DATES:   11 - 15 JULY 2005
TIMES:  8:00 - 16:00 except for the first day, 
when registration is from 8:30 and starting 
time is at 9:00
CENTRALEASTNORTHSOUTH
EMDC
7 Main Road
Mowbray		Hendrick Louw
Primary School		Bosmansdam
Primary School		Agape
Specialised School
Mitchell's Plain
Cape Town
Teachers' Centre
Claremont		Macassar
High School		Kenridge
Primary School		Ottery
Youth Centre
Cape Peninsula
University of Technology
Mowbray Campus		Simonsberg
Primary School		Excelsior
Secondary School		Portland Indoor
Sport Centre
  Encotsheni
Primary School		 EMDC Hall
Parow		Nompumelelo Training
Centre, Gugulethu
  Masiphumelele
Primary School		 Zwaanswyk
High School
  EMDC Kuils River   

BREEDE RIVER/
OVERBERG		SOUTH CAPE
KAROO		WEST COAST/
WINELANDS
Swartberg Primary SchoolParkdene Primary SchoolRietenbosch Primary School, C1
De Villiers Primary School RobertsonSt Mary's Primary School GeorgeNoor-Eind Primary School C2,3
Ceres Secondary School CeresOteniqua Primary School George (Eng)Steynville High School Piketberg C6
EMDC WorcesterWesbank Primary School OudtshoornWeskus Special School C7
EMDC WorcesterBrighton Junior School OudtshoornClanwilliam High School
  Nico Brummer Primary School
Beaufort West (Eng/Afr)		Vredendal Secondary School C9
  Knysna Primary 
  Sao Bras Secondary School
Mossel Bay		 

5. TRANSPORT
5.1 The WCED will reimburse transport costs to the nearest venue at Departmental rates for WCED-employed participants. However, participants are requested to travel together as far as possible. Owing to limited funds, teachers at independent schools and SGB-appointed staff will have to claim from their schools.
5.2 In order to claim at the end of the course, participants must have their Persal numbers and the following information available:

  • For private vehicles: Details of the vehicle, i.e. make, model and engine capacity (e.g. 1300 cc) and a record of kilometres travelled (starting and ending each day)

  • For public transport: Receipts MUST be submitted.

  • For taxi commuters: If no receipt is issued, participants are required to submit a sworn affidavit with their claims stating the following:

  • Name and Persal number

  • Name of school

  • Starting point and finishing point of journey

  • Fare for one trip

  • Dates claimed for

  • Amount claimed

  • That this was the only transport option they had and/or that this was the cheapest option available to them. NO CLAIMS MAY BE SUBMITTED AFTER THE COURSE.
6. Schools are strongly advised to ensure that all their Grade 7 teachers attend the same workshop so that grade planning for 2006 can commence for the staff team at the same time.
7. Tea and light snacks will be served. Participants are advised to bring their own food.
8. 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.
9. The WCED wishes to emphasise the importance of the attendance of these training courses so that curriculum change and implementation can be managed to the advantage of all our learners. In conclusion, the Department wishes to thank principals and teachers for their support in this regard.
10. Heads of educational institutions are requested to ensure that the contents of this circular are brought to the attention of all the educators concerned.


SIGNED: J.P. RAULT-SMITH
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2005:03:18