| 1. |
The Chief Directorate: Curriculum Development Minute 0011/2008 relating to QIDS UP in National Quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools, announced that resource provision in these primary and secondary schools will focus on improving the quality of education in order to provide equal opportunities within the Western Cape through a programme of redress.
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| 2. |
In an effort to support teaching and learning in Physical Sciences, the Western Cape Education Department has implemented the above project, which will focus on the following aspects:
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| 2.1 |
QIDS UP secondary schools will be provided with basic apparatus, equipment and chemicals to give learners the opportunity to conduct practical investigations and to enable them to design and execute their own investigations.
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| 2.2 |
Teachers of Physical Sciences at these schools will be expected to attend a compulsory training session on how to utilise, secure and maintain the apparatus, equipment and chemicals. The training will include the following aspects: identification and use of the science stock supplied, their safety and storage in accordance with the WCED Policy and Protocol on Safety in school science, and their recording in the Physical Sciences inventory. The compulsory training is earmarked for the first Term of 2009 and details in this regard will reach your school soon.
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| 2.3 |
The decentralised training sessions will be organised as follows:
| EDUCATION DISTRICT | DATE |
| Eden & Central Karoo (George) | 24 January 2009 |
| Cape Winelands, West Coast and Overberg (Worcester) | 31 January 2009 |
| Metro East and Metro North (Kuils River) | 7 February 2009 |
| Metro South and Metro Central (Kuils River) | 14 February 2009 |
Further details on venues and times will reach your school soon.
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| 3. |
The principal and the school science safety officer will be responsible for the safety, storage, maintenance, monitoring and recording of the science stock supplied. The science equipment and chemicals will be delivered to the identified schools during the fourth term, from October until the end of November 2008.
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| 4. |
The principal and the school science safety officer must ensure that their school receives all the items listed in the invoice and that these items are free of any defects. This must be done immediately after the science stock arrives at the school. Any defects or shortages in the items delivered should be reported immediately to the service provider and Don Francis. The items must then be entered into the Physical Sciences inventory. The signed invoices must be filed and recorded in the school's asset register.
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| 4.1 |
Don Francis and the curriculum advisers in each education district will monitor the delivery process.
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| 4.2 |
Annexure A is a checklist that must be completed by the school science safety officer and then faxed for the attention of Don Francis using fax number 021 467 2258.
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| 5. |
In schools where a school science safety officer has not yet been appointed, the HOD in charge of Physical Sciences will act as school safety officer for the duration of this project.
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| 6. |
Principals must ensure that the school science safety officer and all the Physical Sciences' teachers receive a copy of this minute.
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SIGNED: SM NAICKER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2008:11:14
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