28 June 2006
More than 14 000 teachers are attending workshops throughout the Western
Cape during the June-July holiday as they prepare to introduce new aspects of
the national curriculum in 2007.
Schools and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will complete the
process of implementing the revised national curriculum for Grades R to 9 next
year, when they introduce the curriculum in Grades 8 and 9.
More than 5 700 Grade 8 and 9 teachers have registered for workshops at 93
venues across the province. The workshops will complete the process of teacher
orientation, which began in 2003.
Grades R to 9 represent General Education and Training (GET) in schools,
while Further Education and Training (FET) covers Grades 10 to 12 in schools
and equivalent levels in FET colleges.
Schools and the WCED are also currently implementing the new national
curriculum for FET in schools, starting with Grade 10 in 2006.Preparations for
implementing the FET curriculum in schools began four years ago.
A total of 8 372 FET teachers are attending workshops at 136 venues in all
parts of the province as they prepare to introduce the new curriculum in Grade
11 in 2007. Learners in Grade 10 in 2006 will be the first to write the
National Senior Certificate based on the curriculum in 2008.
Various orientation and training events taking place in the province this
year will cover all 29 subjects in the national curriculum for FET in schools.
The national Department of Education (DoE) will provide training for Religion
Studies teachers and officials in Port Elizabeth.
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) will provide training for
Computer Applications Technology (CAT) and Information Technology (IT)
teachers. The Elsenburg College will provide training for Agriculture
teachers.
The WCED has organised orientation workshops at other venues to cover the
remaining subjects. The WCED has assembled a Provincial Core Training Team of
139 officials and 68 lead teachers who will facilitate the orientation sessions
on the FET curriculum.
The department has adapted its approach following feedback provided by
teachers after training sessions over the past few years. In most cases,
teachers will attend four days of orientation. The first two days deal with
curriculum content, while the remaining two days will address assessment and
planning.
Teachers can choose which content sessions they would like to attend, to
suit their professional and academic requirements. The sessions on assessment
and planning are compulsory.
Training programmes for new subjects will take longer. Programmes for
Agriculture, Dance Studies and four Technology subjects will last for five
days, while programmes for CAT and IT will last for seven days.
This year's sessions will be the last of their kind as schools and the
department prepare to introduce the new National Senior Certificate in 2008.
The department and schools will focus on consolidation next year. The workshops
for FET teachers will take place from 26 and 30 June and from 3 to 7 July.
Meanwhile, the WCED has appointed a provincial core training team of
144 curriculum advisors, Khanya advisors and senior curriculum planners to
facilitate the orientation courses for Grade 8 and 9 teachers, supported by 87
lead teachers.
The orientation courses are focussing on the following:
* Getting to know the National Curriculum Statement and one of the eight
learning areas;
* Classroom practice with the National Curriculum Statement (Teaching and
learning styles for differentiated teaching);
* Assessment in the National Curriculum Statement (Development of Assessment
tasks);
* Planning with the National Curriculum Statement framework (Learning
Programmes/Work Schedules/Lesson Plans;
* Curriculum Management at School.
The aim of the orientation in 2006 is to develop a better understanding of
learning areas and to assist teachers in preparing teaching and learning
activities for 2007.
The national and provincial education departments will monitor the courses.
The WCED will also ask teachers to evaluate the courses and to identify areas
that need further development. The department will use this feedback to develop
further support to ensure that every teacher is ready for 2007.
About 1,500 teachers will attend further sessions during the September
school holiday, on a second learning area.
Said MEC Cameron Dugmore "We commend our teachers and our officials for
their dedication and professionalism as we enter the final stages of
implementing the national curriculum.
"This has been a long process, but a vital one as we build a new education
system designed to make a difference in the life of every learner.
"The National Curriculum is beginning to settle down and stabilize this
bodes well for learners as the outcomes become more familiar. Our teachers are
also beginning to display more confidence.
"The outcomes of the curriculum will help us achieve a learning turnaround
and ensure that all our learners have the necessary knowledge, skills, values
and attitudes to contribute to the development of our province and country.
"We look forward to working with everyone in the broad education community
as we bed down the curriculum and continue in our efforts to provide quality
education for all."
Enquiries
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education Western Cape
Tel: (021) 467 2523
Fax: (021) 425 5689
Paddy Attwell
Cell: 083 261 7699.
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
28 June 2006
