1. Use teachers in their areas of strength

From January 2007, the National Curriculum Statement will be operational from Grade R to Grade 11. Schools and the education department need to allow time to build up curriculum expertise, and to ensure that teachers are allocated duties in their areas of strength.

2. Develop expertise across the curriculum

As curriculum managers of their schools, principals are expected to develop their staff to become experts in the areas of the curriculum which they teach. A staff development programme will help the school to be responsive and open to change from a firm base. Such a plan will guide teachers to equip themselves in new areas. Formal training is available in two-year part-time ACE courses. In some cases teachers can be recompensed for the cost of these courses after successful completion.

3. Allow time for competence to grow

Research shows that, once teachers have been trained in a subject, it takes time for them to feel confident of meeting its requirements. They should, therefore,

  • be given the opportunity to create a firm grounding in a subject / learning area and grade before changing to a new area and/or grade;

  • build up a degree of expertise in the learning areas assigned to them; and

  • stay with a grade for at least 3 years in those cases where they have had training or are involved in curriculum projects, e.g. to improve language or numeracy.

This implies that teachers

  • remain in the grade and do not ordinarily move from one year to the next through a phase with their classes;

  • assess the competence of each learner at the beginning of a new year;

  • are not moved around unnecessarily, thereby forcing them to undertake new planning and a new search for resources each year. Moving in the course of the year, except in exceptional circumstances, is unacceptable.

4. Obtain planning support

Support for this medium- to long-term planning may be obtained from curriculum advisers and circuit managers.



SIGNED: J.P. RAULT-SMITH
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2006:10:31