1. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) deems it critical that all schools should have a 37 week work schedule to ensure effective teaching and learning in the classroom for 2008.
2. A work schedule is a year-long plan covering at least 37 weeks that guides the teacher in terms of the content to be taught in a grade. The work schedule is derived from the Learning Programme for the phase and spells out more specifically the context, core knowledge and skills to be taught in a given year.
3. A questionnaire regarding work schedules for Grades R to 9 will be sent to all schools within a few days to determine whether such work schedules were implemented in classrooms and how extensively they are used. Curriculum advisers will follow this up with spot checks.
4. Learning Programme exemplars were sent to schools from 2004 to 2006 as a guide to assist Foundation Phase, Intermediate Phase and Senior Phase teachers with effective planning. These exemplars covered all relevant learning outcomes and assessment standards and included elements of a work schedule.
5. Principals are kindly requested to ensure that the forthcoming questionnaire is completed by the relevant phase co-ordinators or head of departments at the school and returned by the stipulated due date.


SIGNED: S. NAICKER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2008:01:31