| 1. |
The vision of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED)’s MST strategy is a scientifically literate, technologically fluent and mathematically literate society. It is, therefore, important to empower individuals to participate in the emerging knowledge-based economy and to support sustainable development. The WCED has, in conjunction with the Western Cape legislature and other role-players, committed itself to increasing the number of learners taking and passing Mathematics and Physical Science on the Higher Grade, especially learners from those sectors of the population that are under-represented in the achievement of this goal.
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| 2. |
Currently, only about 11% of our Grade 12 learners register for and pass Mathematics on the Higher Grade. The table below gives the figures for the past three years:
| Learners taking Mathematics on the Higher Grade | | | |
| Year | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
| Senior Certificate Entries | 38 117 | 38 750 | 38 896 |
| Mathematics HG Entries | 4 119 | 4 446 | 5 093 |
| Mathematics HG passes | 3 679 | 3 938 | 4 268 |
| % HG entries | 10.81 | 11.47 | 13.09 |
| % HG passes | 9.65 | 10.16 | 10.97 |
This low percentage restricts both the number of career opportunities open to matriculants and the development of our economy.
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| 3.1 |
It is our intention to introduce intervention strategies to double the number of learners that took Mathematics and Physical Science on the Higher Grade in 2004 by 2007. It is particularly important, therefore, to ensure that learners currently taking these subjects on the Higher Grade in Grades 10 to 12 are fully supported to enable them to continue on the Higher Grade and to pass the subjects on this level at the end of Grade 12.
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| 3.2 |
The target for 2005 is that all learners must pass Mathematics and Physical Science on the grade for which they entered the subject at the beginning of the year. Schools must provide additional support for learners who are finding it difficult to pass Higher Grade, rather than having the learners change to Standard Grade.
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| 3.3 |
Schools are requested as from 2006 to encourage as many learners as possible to opt for Mathematics in Grade 10. The value of Mathematics in terms of employment opportunities and further study should also be relayed to learners.
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| 4. |
Schools are thus requested to set targets for achieving these goals. EMDC officials will visit schools to discuss these targets and report on the efforts to achieve them.
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| 5. |
Attached for your convenience, please find the schedule for this process (Annexure C) and the goal-setting forms for Mathematics (Annexure A) and Physical Science (Annexure B). These can be used by your staff to engage in a discussion of the targets that your school will set prior to the visit by an EMDC official.
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| 6. |
Kindly submit Annexures A and B by 23 September 2005 to your EMDC chief curriculum advisor. You are requested to adhere to this deadline as the WCED has to provide DoE with these targets by 30 November 2005.
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SIGNED: D.R. SHEPHERD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2005:08:30
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