Statement by Education MEC, Cameron Dugmore

Schools in the Western Cape appear to be managing the transition to the new curriculum for Grade 10 well, according to results reported to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) thus far.

The WCED has received reports of individual schools that have experienced difficulties, while others have delivered results that show an improvement on those of previous years.

Results have improved considerably since June, which shows that schools have worked hard on bringing their learners up to speed for the end-of-year examinations.

Some schools have not coped with the transition, and the WCED will pay special attention to these schools to assist them in 2007.

Schools reported the results of about 20% of Grade 10 learners by noon on Saturday, 2 December 2006. Moderated results from the province’s seven education districts indicate a pass rate so far of 74%.

The results so far show that schools and the WCED have succeeded in managing the transition well, thanks to the hard work of all concerned. For example, the WCED’s South Cape/Karoo District has shown an improvement on previous years.

We appreciate the special efforts of most of our schools to ensure that they meet the challenges posed by the new curriculum.

We have raised the bar to ensure that our learners receive a quality education. Our learners are showing that they can rise to this challenge. They must now keep it up to ensure that they achieve quality results in matric in 2008.

Schools are still getting used to applying the standards involved in setting papers and assessment on the new curriculum. We will have to moderate results, as we have done in the past, to ensure that no learners are advantaged or disadvantaged unfairly.

Schools and the WCED have prepared for the implementation of the new national curriculum for Grades 10 to 12 for the past four years.

While we have prepared materials and conducted major training programmes, we ultimately learn by doing. Our schools have generally shown that they can manage this transition.

The WCED introduced a range of special measures in 2006 to provide additional support for schools. These included distributing sets of examples of Grade 10 examination papers, supplied nationally. Schools used the papers as models to ensure common standards.

The WCED monitored and moderated these examinations to assure quality and to identify issues that schools and the department must address in 2007.

In addition, 10 schools wrote common national papers in selected subjects, as part of a national pilot study. The national Department of Education moderated and reported to inform planning for the 2007 Grade 11 examinations.

The WCED organised orientation workshops in June and July to consolidate subject content knowledge and teaching and assessment practices for Grades 10 to 12 teachers. Teachers developed appropriate sample lessons during the workshops.

The WCED prepared subject resource packs for teachers in collaboration with the four local universities to build content knowledge and teaching skills of non-qualified and under-qualified teachers.

The resource packs are pitched at first-year university level and will provide teachers with the conceptual knowledge and understanding they need to teach new curriculum content required in Grades 10 to 12.

The WCED provided a guide to all Grade 10 learners to provide advice on how to study. Life Orientation teachers can use this guide to support learners as they to prepare for assessment.

The WCED distributed teaching and learning support videos, developed by the SABC, for Mathematical Literacy, English First Additional Language, Physical Sciences and Life Orientation to all schools as a teaching and learning aid.

The WCED developed a guide for teachers on how to set examinations that effectively meet the requirements of the curriculum’s assessment standards.

Support for Grade 11 learners

Learners who fail Grade 11 in 2006 have various options for continuing with their studies:

• move to an FET college where they will have to register for the new FETC

• move to an ABET centre

• register as a private candidate for the 2007 Senior Certificate

• repeat Grade 11 at school

All Grade 11 learners will have to follow the new national curriculum for Further Education and Training (FET) in schools in 2007.

Learners who are repeating will have to offer Life Orientation. If they do not offer Mathematics, they will have to offer Mathematical Literacy.

The WCED has developed subject guidelines for both teachers and learners on prior knowledge and skills required for the national curriculum in Grade 11.

The guidelines include appropriate teaching and learning strategies to cope with the knowledge and skills gap, as well a time frame for completion.

Learners in Grade 11 in 2006 have already engaged with an outcomes-based curriculum, namely Curriculum 2005, in Grades 7 to 9.

Preparations for FET in 2007

The national Department of Education (DoE) and the WCED have introduced a range of measures to provide further support for teachers and learners in Grades 10 and 11 in 2007. These include the following:

Reviewed Subject Assessment Guidelines (SAGs)

The DoE has reviewed Subject Assessment Guidelines for Grades 10 and 11 in 2007. The WCED is currently translating them into Afrikaans and isiXhosa. The guidelines will become policy from 1 January 2007.

Pace Setters for 2007

The WCED has developed pace setters for Grades 10 and 11 for 23 of the 29 matric subjects. The department has asked principals to use these pace setters when planning for 2007 and to monitor their application carefully during the year.

The pace setters are aligned to the subject statements and assessment guidelines. If used properly, teachers will find that they will have sufficient time for revision during the fourth term. The pace setters for Grade 11 will also allow time for adequate preparation for a planned national examination in 2007.

Grade 10 examination setting guide

The WCED has developed and distributed guidelines for setting Grade 10 examinations to support the development of common standards. The department’s Education Management and Development Centres (EMDCSs) will discuss the guidelines further with schools in 2007.

Teacher subject orientation 2007

The WCED will offer a range of subject courses in 2007, including Career Guidance in Life Orientation, Economics and Business Studies to Numeracy Consolidation in Grade 8 in preparation for compulsory Maths/Maths Literacy in Grade 10.

In March and April 2007, the WCED will repeat orientation sessions first provided in June and July 2006, in response to many requests from schools.

The national Department of Education will continue to provide orientation on IT, CAT and the four Technology subjects. The DoE will facilitate the workshops, while the WCED will see to logistical arrangements.

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi: 082 550 3938.