1. The Department of Basic Education, in partnership with South African History Online, invites all schools to participate in the 2014 National Schools’ Oral History Competition for the Nkosi Albert Luthuli Young Historians’ Award, introduced in 2005. This competition will form part of the Department’s contribution in strengthening the teaching and learning of History in schools. The Department is planning a national event which will be preceded by provincial competitions on specific topics.

2. It is also part of the Department’s on-going initiative to encourage all learners to develop an understanding, not only of the broad history of South Africa, but also of the richness of the histories of their local communities. It is 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 Social Sciences and History teachers in secondary schools.

4. Learners and teachers are advised to visit the South African History Online website at www.sahistory.org.za for information on oral history research and the South African History Archives website at www.saha.org.za

5. Competition for learners

Learners will be required to research and prepare a presentation or documentary film or video on one of the following topics:
5.1 How Apartheid affected people's lives and how people responded

Learners will be required to choose one individual or a family in their community whose life was shaped by the Apartheid system. Learners should focus on individuals or families who are not publicly acknowledged but are part of the local community. Corroborative sources should be used to validate the information gathered from all interviews.
5.2 Unsung Heroes and heroines in my local community in the first 20 years of democracy

In this topic, learners will be required to unearth biographies of local men and women who played a critical and selfless role in the development of the local community over the past 20 years. Learners should focus on those men/women who were not publicly acknowledged but are catalysts for positive change in their local community.
5.3 The achievements in the education system since the advent of democracy in 1994

Learners are required to conduct interviews with fellow learners, parents and educators on how they had seen the education system improve in the first 20 years of democracy. While challenges remain no doubt, learners are required to document key achievements that form the basis of moving towards an improved and equitable system of education.

6. 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 and should be strongly guided to choose persons from their local community;
  • Learners should be advised to interview at least 3 to 4 people;
  • Adjudication will be weighted in terms of research;
  • Learners can present their project in any of the official languages; and
  • Learners must submit a portfolio that documents all their research.
7. Criteria - Learners will be expected to do TWO things:
7.1 Give an oral presentation or submit a video documentary of their oral research to a panel of adjudicators (it is intended to be neither a dramatic presentation nor poetry). Prepare a portfolio in written form, which must include the following:
7.1.1 Portfolios must show evidence of research. Learners should interview members of the community and should be able to show evidence of the interviews, for example, letters to interviewees, transcripts of interviews or tape recordings, including the list of questions posed to the persons that they interviewed and their responses – either in written form or on a digital tape recording.
7.1.2 Interviews may be conducted and recorded in any of the official languages.
7.1.3 Portfolios must also show evidence of reflection and should give attention to the following:

  • Learners should make it clear why they chose the persons they have interviewed, show a clear understanding of the historical context in which the individual worked, and how the information from the interview relates to the historical context or how it helps us to understand events from a personal perspective.

  • Learners should include a personal reflection on what they have learnt about the possibilities for individuals to bring about change in society, what they have learnt personally from carrying out the oral history research and the value of oral history research in helping us to understand our history.

  • Learners must acknowledge all sources used in their portfolios. Bibliographies should be included. Plagiarism will be heavily penalised.
8. Assessment criteria for oral history research projects (adapted from NCS FET History Subject Assessment Guidelines):

Scope of the oral history project

Oral history projects have a number of components:

  • Key question to focus the research;
  • Background research to set the interviews in context;
  • The interviews and transcriptions of the interviews;
  • A written discussion about how the information in the interviews relates to the period;
  • An evaluation of the interviews as sources about the past; and
  • Self-reflection at the end: What has doing this project meant to me [the learner] in terms of personal growth and knowledge and understanding of the period?
    (This could also focus on more direct questions, especially in Grade 10, such as: What was the most important thing you learned from the oral histories? Having done the project, what would you like to know more about?)
N.B. Use the criteria as outlined for the research assignment. Criteria might be added to make the core criteria more appropriate for specific tasks
Criterion 1
Formulate questions for the project
Criterion 2
Identify and access a variety of sources of information
Criterion 3
Knowledge and understanding of the period
Criterion 4
Historical enquiry and communication
Criterion 5
Presentation

Criteria for assessing an oral history project
Criterion 1
Interview questions
  • The questions were open-ended;
  • The questions were appropriate and elicited information relevant to the overall question; and
  • There were sufficient questions.
Criterion 2
Interviewees
  • Persons interviewed were appropriate; and
  • The biographical details of the interviewees were given.
Criterion 3
Preparation and planning
  • There is evidence of careful preparation for the interviews;
  • There is evidence of project planning; and
  • All preparation and planning notes are included in the project.
Criterion 4
Presentation of the information from the interviews
  • The interviewees were placed in historical context;
  • The context for understanding the interviews was given;
  • The information from the interviews was placed in historical context;
  • The information from the interviews was accurately transcribed (if a tape recorder was used);
  • The information from the interviews was analysed and organised coherently, showing different points of view, if appropriate; and
  • The presentation of the project to the class was clear and effective.
Criterion 5
Self-reflection
  • Comments show depth of thought about the process and the product.

9. Competition for teachers
9.1 Teachers from secondary schools entering the competition will be required to develop a work plan on how they have planned and set up the oral history project in the classroom.
9.2 Each teacher will be required to give a presentation of his or her portfolio to a panel of adjudicators and be prepared for a panel discussion on his or her portfolio.
9.3 Teachers should include the following in a portfolio for the competition:

  • How the oral history project was introduced in the classroom;
  • Learners could develop posters for a heritage site;
  • 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 made in assisting learners to complete the project;
  • What the teacher felt the learners gained from doing an oral history investigation; and
  • A range of examples of learners' work should be included.
10. Provincial adjudication process
10.1 Teachers need to identify and prepare learners for the elimination rounds within the districts as well as the provincial event, ensure that all learners who have entered are present and ready for the provincial event and ensure that the necessary transport to and from the events is arranged.
10.2 Learners need to complete their research, questionnaires, interviews and transcriptions well in advance, ensure that they have compiled their portfolios of evidence, completed their presentations, are able to answer any questions regarding their projects and research and are able to reflect and share their personal experiences.
10.3 The provincial adjudication to select the 7 learners and 3 teachers for the national competition will take place on 23 August 2014. A preliminary workshop to assist educators with the preparation of learners taking part on the competition will be held on 12 April 2014. Additional preparatory workshops for educators and learners will be arranged by the curriculum advisers within the districts. The times and venues for all workshops will be confirmed via the curriculum advisers for Social Sciences and History.
10.4 The Department of Basic Education will be responsible for travel and accommodation costs for participating learners and teachers during the national competition in Pretoria from 20 to 22 September 2014.

11. An application form is attached as Annexure A.

12. For further information, please contact Dr K Angier at tel 021 467 2251 or e-mail address kate.angier@westerncape.gov.za

13. Principals are kindly requested to bring the contents of this minute to the notice of the school management team and the teachers concerned.


SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2014:04:01

Annexure A: The Nkosi Albert Luthuli Oral History Competition application form  (size: 39 KB)