The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has honoured 44 schools for excellent performance and improvement in the 2009 Grade 6 literacy and numeracy tests.

Donald Grant, Minister of Education, and Penny Vinjevold, Head of Education in the province, presented awards to the schools at a function on Thursday, 25 March 2010, at the Panorama Primary School in Parow.

The department selected the top overall performers in each of the province’s eight districts, as well as those in disadvantaged communities in each district who had shown the greatest improvement.

The awards recognized overall performance and improvement, as well as performance in literacy and numeracy.

Minister Grant said that key priorities of the WCED included ensuring that “all our learners are able to read, write and calculate at the appropriate level”.

“We are determined, as outlined in our strategic plan, to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes at all levels.”

The department’s Grade 3 and 6 tests played an important role by identifying learners’ strengths and weaknesses.

“If we do not set benchmarks for our learners, and test them against these benchmarks on a regular basis, we will never be able to target individual learning needs and improve learner outcomes,” Grant said.

“That is why tonight is so important. We are recognizing and acknowledging all those schools and educators who are responsible for improved results and excellence, and will hopefully serve as an incentive to others to improve their results in the future.”

“Let us be honest, the overall results of the 2009 tests reveal that we do have many challenges ahead,” Grant said.

“The percentage of learners achieving 50% or more for literacy across the Western Cape is 48.6%, and 17.4% for numeracy. But while these results are still unacceptably low it is encouraging to note that the majority of schools are making progress.”

“For example, out of 1046 primary schools 611, or 58.4%, improved their results in numeracy, with 211 schools improving by more than 10%. 17.9% of schools results remained the same.”

In literacy, 603 schools (57.6%) improved their results, with 341 schools increasing by more then 10%.

“It is also pleasing to note that the gap between those who can and those who cannot comprehend literacy and numeracy at the lower grade levels is closing.” Grant said.

“This is evidenced by the fact that in 2003, only 29.1% passed at grade 4 level, whilst in 2009, 45.1% passed at that same level. This is an encouraging 16% increase.”

The awards presented on 25 March were for schools that have consistently performed well over the 3 year assessment period, as well as, schools that have shown substantial progress.

“I had the pleasure of visiting two of these schools earlier this week - Rustenberg Girls' Junior and Yomelela Primary School,” Grant said.

“Rustenberg has consistently performed well since 2005, achieving a pass rate of 100% in literacy in 2005 and 2009. In numeracy they obtained 95.9% in 2009, compared to 97.5% and 95.5% in 2003 and 2005.”

“If one compares these pass rates to the provincial average, this is extremely praiseworthy.”

“However, the most noteworthy praises should go to schools, like Yomelela Primary School in Khayelitsha, who have drastically improved their performance in these tests, despite facing a myriad of challenges each day.

“In 2005, 0% of their learners achieved a pass rate of 50% or more in literacy. In 2007, this increased to 31.4% and 43.7% in 2009.

“In numeracy, they achieved 0% in 2005 and 2007, and 38.9% in 2009. This is a remarkable achievement. The question is, how did they do it?”

“So the first thing I did was ask the educators what they believed contributed to this increase.

“They said that, first and foremost, their attitude towards the tests changed. Instead of looking at the test results and getting despondent, they saw them as an opportunity to improve by analysing the results and seeing where learners were struggling. They also taught the learners in the language of the paper that was written, revised old papers and held extra classes on Saturdays and week days for learners that were struggling.

“They even held mock tests at the examination hall where the assessment test was later to be written, in order to familiarize their learners with their surroundings!

“These interventions obviously worked. However, I don’t believe this could have been achieved without the assistance from the circuit, the leadership of the principal, Mr. Ncinitwa, and the collaboration of all educators at the school.

“Every teacher was involved in this process and I sincerely believe that this team effort and dedication led to where they are today - accepting an award for excellence!

“I have been told though, on good authority, that the rest of the schools celebrated here tonight share the same values and goals.

“I would like to say congratulations to you all. The WCED is very proud of your success and I can only look forward to seeing what all of you achieve at the end of this year.”

The following is a list of the award winners and the criteria used for presenting the awards:

Introduction and background

The Grade 6 Literacy and Numeracy test was conducted for the first time in 2003 in a sample of schools. These tests were again offered in 2005, 2007 and 2009. In 2007, a total of 1034 Primary Schools participated in the tests and 71 854 learners out of 76 289 learners wrote the test. In 2009, a total of 83 921 learners out of 85 117 learners wrote the tests across 1 046 schools.

Primary schools that produce excellent results and those that have shown the greatest improvement over the years in Literacy and Numeracy must be recognised for their progress and achievement. The awards serve as an incentive for schools to continue to better their achievements.

The awards were allocated in a manner that is fair to all districts and schools. The top schools and the schools that show the greatest improvement across districts were awarded.

Categories of awards

Awards were allocated in terms of identified criteria based on excellent and progressively consistent performance over the 3 - year assessment period from 2005 to 2009. Recognition was also given to schools in terms of the social and economic context in which they function and here we specifically identified schools that have shown progress and improvement according to the national quintiles.

In terms of the 2009 Grade 6 Literacy and Numeracy results, awards to Primary schools are allocated in the following categories:

Category 1: Performance excellence in outcomes

Category 1(a): Performance Excellence in Outcomes

In this category, awards were made to a maximum of eight schools (one school per district) where the performance in Numeracy and Literacy combined over the period 2005 to 2009 illustrates consistently meritorious outcomes. Excellence of outcomes was measured in terms of the performance in both Literacy and Numeracy.

All awardees received a certificate as well as a monetary incentive of R12 000,00 for the purchase of teaching and learning support material.

School Name	Principal	District	Total Ave %
Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School	Mrs D. Berry	Central	88,9%
Laerskool De Hoop	Jacobus Wynand Cillie	East	82,8%
Laerskool Welgemoed	Mnr C.J. Spies	North	83,3%
Sweet Valley Primary	Mr I G Ryan	South	83,7%
Rhenish Primary School	B.W.Niland	Cape Winelands	84,4%
Laerskool Wesbank	Mnr A P Hanekom	South Cape/Karoo	82,5%
Laerskool Hermanus	J B Cilliers	Overberg	78,4%
Augsburg Landbougimnasium	Mnr J S Nel	West Coast	85,4%

Category 1(b): Excellence of outcomes in Literacy

In this category, awards were made to eleven schools where the performance in Literacy in 2009 illustrates meritorious outcomes. Excellence of outcomes was measured in terms of the best pass rates in Literacy per district and the results of the school in Numeracy is also comparable. The winners in this category excluded the winners in category 1(a).

All awardees received a certificate as well as a monetary incentive of R12 000 for the purchase of teaching and learning support material.

School Name	Principal	District	Excellence 2009 Achievement
Grove Primary School	Mrs S Shield	Central	100%
Greenfield Girls’ Primary School	Mrs Carol te Water	Central	100%
Llandudno Primary School	Mrs D K Erasmus	Central	100%
Beaumont Primary School	Mr GD Reddell	East	93,6%
Kenridge Primary School	Mr GV Albrecht	North	96,6%
Wynberg Girls’ Junior School	Ms WM Condie	South	100%
Kommetjie Primary School	B Velensky	South	100%
Paarl Girls’ High School	Reinnette Colyn	Cape Winelands	93,5%
Holy Cross Primary School (George)	Mr DJ Davis	South Cape/Karoo	98,2%
Laerskool Swellendam	F C Liebenberg	Overberg	97,2%
Laerskool Vredendal	J M Moon	West Coast	96,8%

Category 1(c): Excellence of outcomes in Numeracy

In this category, awards were made to eight schools (one per district) where the performance in Numeracy in 2009 illustrates meritorious outcomes and the results of the school is comparable to the results achieved in Literacy. Excellence of outcomes is measured in terms of the best pass rates per district in 2009. The winners in this category excluded the winners in category 1(a) and 1(b).

All awardees received a certificate as well as a monetary incentive of R12 000 for the purchase of teaching and learning support material.

School Name	Principal	Excellence 2009 Achievement
Oakhurst Girls’ Primary School	Mrs J van Velden	97,1%
Laerskool Hendrik Louw	Mr L. Brown	77,4%
Laerskool Eversdal	Dr H A Brand	90,7%
Kirstenhof Primary School		79,6%
Laerskool Eikestad	Dr B B Aucamp	86,1%
Plettenberg Bay Primary School	Mr H Bester	76,1%
Laerskool De Villiers Graaff	Mr J F Brouwer	72,5%
Laerskool Swartland	Mr H S Weideman	70,2%

Category 2: Overall improvement in performance in the context within which a school operates

Improvement in overall performance

In this category, awards were made to schools that have shown the greatest improvement in Numeracy and Literacy over the period 2005 to 2009 relative to the context within which the school operates. The ‘context within which a school operates’ is based on the national quintiles (1-3) in which schools are currently categorized.

Awards will be allocated in terms of:

Farm and Multi-grade Schools

School Name	Principal	District	Overall improvement % (literacy and numeracy)
Wanganella NGK Primêre Skool	Mev M Frieslaar	Winelands	15,7%
Gamka-Oos Primêre Skool	J R Dyssel	Karoo	12,2%
The Valley Primêre skool	Mej P August	North	11,9%
Protem NGK Primêre Skool	Mr D Davids	Overberg	16,4%
Welgemeend NGK Primêre Skool	F Arendse	West Coast	15,5%

Enrolment of 600 and more learners

School Name	Principal	District	Overall improvement % (literacy and numeracy)
Portia Primary School	Mrs R J September	Central	13,2%
Yomelela Primary School	M V Ncinitwa	East	16,9%
Uitsig Primêre Skool	Mr H J Mouwers	North	11,5%
Sophakama Primary School	F Mvinjelwa	North	11,6%
Jamaicaweg Primary School	Mr TJ Abrahams	South	13,1%
St Konrad RK Primary School	Mr E G Basson	Karoo	15,4%

Enrolment of less than 600 learners

School Name	Principal	District	Overall improvement % (literacy and numeracy)
Bonga Lower Primary School	MC Jonas	Central	19,2%
Riverton Primêre Skool	Mr J Rittman	North	12,5%
Lotus River Primary School	Mr S P Claasen	South	12,7%
Laerskool Hoekwil	Mnr Du Plessis	Karoo	10,1%
Laerskool Struisbaai	Mrs M de Villiers	Overberg	14,5%
Leipoldtville NGK Primêre Skool	Mev R Hammers	West Coast	19,9%

All awardees received a certificate and a monetary incentive of R15 000 for the purchase of teaching and learning support material.

For enquiries, contact Bronagh Casey:  072 724 1422 or brcasey@pgwc.gov.za.

Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za