1. The national Department of Education, in partnership with South African History Online, is inviting all schools to participate in the National Schools’ Oral History Competition for the Nkosi Albert Luthuli Young Historians’ Award, which was introduced in 2005. This competition will form part of the Department’s participation in the commemoration of significant historical events.
2. It is also part of the Department’s ongoing initiative to encourage all learners to develop an understanding of the broad history of South Africa and of the richness of the histories of their local communities. It is also an opportunity for young learners to gain experience in developing important research skills.
3. The competition is open to all learners from Grade 8 to Grade 11 and all History and Social Sciences teachers at secondary schools.

4. Competition for Learners
4.1 Learners and teachers are advised to visit the South African History Online website at www.sahistory.org.za for information on oral history research.
4.2 Learners will be required to research and prepare a presentation or a documentary film or video on one of the following documents:
  1. Our unsung heroes: Investigate the life of a member of your community, showing, through oral history research, how that individual has shown leadership qualities and, through commitment and dedication, made a difference to your community.
  2. Investigate an example of local community struggle in your community against apartheid, in which the community came together to demonstrate their opposition to some apartheid government action that directly affected the local community.
  3. Investigate, by interviewing people who participated in its formation or various youth, women, student and other civic organization affiliates, how the formation of the community-based organizations that were affiliated to the United Democratic Front affected members of your community.
  4. Investigate the re-emergence of the labour movement that commenced with the Durban strikes of 1973 and the impact of working class mobilization on the community.
  5. Investigate the role played by members of your family and/or community, whether in South African Defence Force or the liberation armies, in the South African war against Angola and other neighbouring states in the 1980s.
  6. Investigate the history of your school through interviews with former learners, parents and other members of the community, focusing on what changes have taken place in education, particularly in terms of attitudes and organization.
4.3 Please note the following:
  • The project must be based on oral history research.
  • Learners should be assisted in their choice of persons to be interviewed.
  • Learners should be strongly guided to choose a person(s) from their local community.
  • Adjudication will be weighted in terms of the quality of research, rather than the mode of presentation.
  • The presentation may be in any of the official languages.
5. Competition for Teachers
5.1 Teachers entering the competition will be required to submit a work plan on how they had planned and set up the oral history project in the classroom.
5.2 Teachers will be required to present their portfolios formally to a panel of adjudicators and must be prepared for a panel discussion on the portfolio.
5.3 Teachers should include the following in a portfolio for the competition:
  • How the oral history project was introduced in the classroom
  • What explanation was given to learners about choosing and approaching possible interviewees, preparing for and conducting interviews, and using the interview as evidence to reach conclusions about the contribution of that individual
  • What interventions the teacher used in assisting learners to complete the project
  • What the teacher felt the learners gained from doing an oral history investigation
6. Adjudication
6.1 Adjudication will take place at a provincial level on the 29 August 2008 and at a national level on the 1 October 2008 at a national event.
6.2 Panels of adjudicators, comprised of historians and heritage workers, will be appointed for the provincial and national adjudications.

7. The National Event
7.1 Ten learners from secondary schools in each province will be selected as the Nkosi Albert Luthuli Young Historians to represent the province at a national event in October 2008. Learners will be expected to give an oral presentation of their research and have a hard copy of their research essay available for adjudicators.
7.2 Three teachers from each province will be selected to attend the national event in October 2008. Teachers will be expected to present their work plans to a panel of adjudicators.

8. Criteria for learner adjudication are attached.
9. Should your school wish to enter the competition, please complete the attached registration form and fax or e-mail it to the GET Social Sciences or FET History curriculum adviser at your district office, who will provide further information about the adjudication process.


SIGNED: SM NAICKER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2008:05:28

Registration Form and Criteria for adjudication  (size: 31 KB)