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Media Release

2 October, 2008

Schools, WCED well-prepared for NSC exams

Schools and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) have prepared for the introduction of the national curriculum for Grades 10 to 12 over the past six years.

The three-year programme culminates in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams, which take place nationally for the first time this year.

Preparations in the Western Cape have included orientation for about 8 500 high school teachers during July and September holidays on planning, assessment, teaching, classroom methodology and new subject content.

Preparations also included distributing computer-based programmes for self-paced study by teachers. A Provincial Core Training Team of more than 130 subject specialists has provided orientation for teaching on every subject.

Teachers attended additional workshops on most subjects. The WCED engaged universities to provide special resource packs for teachers on key subjects.

Khanya, a WCED initiative, ensured that every high school had a computer laboratory to support teaching and learning by the end of 2006. Almost all NSC subjects require computer-based support.

The WCED has provided teachers with a wide range of support materials, including assessment and learning programme guidelines; pace setters for Grade 10, 11 and 12; work schedules for all subjects; and exemplar question papers.

The WCED has introduced a wide range of support programmes for learners, including special support at schools that achieved matric pass rates of less than 60%; the "Study Buddy" initiative in collaboration with the national Department of Education; and guidelines on study methods.

The WCED has arranged lessons on radio presented by senior curriculum planners and expert teachers, in collaboration with community radio stations; as well as extra tuition at Winter and Spring schools during mid-year and September holidays.

The WCED appointed expert tutors to support teaching and learning at the Western Cape's Dinaledi schools, that specialise in mathematics and science in poor communities.

The department has subsidised learners in poor communities who have shown potential to attend holiday schools, while also working with university students to provide Saturday classes at selected schools. Ster Kinekor cinemas have hosted the SDT/Yellow Pages revision programme for maths and science learners on Sundays.

Senior curriculum planners and curriculum advisors visited schools throughout the province to identify needs and to provide support.

The WCED's Edumedia unit has provided multi-media support materials, including old exam papers on compact discs.

Schools can order Learning Channel DVDs to support a range of subjects, including Life Sciences, Maths, Maths Literacy, Physical Sciences and Business Studies.

Edulis, the WCED's library service, is providing teaching and learning materials in both print and electronic formats.

Learners writing this year's matric exams started preparing for the transition to the NSC curriculum when they first started high school. This included career and study guidance for learners in Grade 8 and 9.

Preparations for 2008 included intensive support for Grade 11 in 2007. This included pace setters, guidance, learning and teaching materials and common national examinations to provide experience in writing and marking national examinations.

Thanks to careful preparation, Grade 11 results improved marginally by about 1% overall in the Western Cape in 2007. The results demonstrated that learners, teachers, school management and officials have engaged seriously with the requirements of the new curriculum.

Unfortunately, schools that traditionally have performed poorly did not achieve the same success. Nevertheless, the department has persevered in providing these schools with special support, notably via the NSLA programme. The WCED is confident that most learners are well prepared for the exams.



Issued by:
Paddy Attwell
Director: Communication
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 021 467 2531
Fax: 021 461 3694
Email: pattwell@pgwc.gov.za

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