MEC Cameron Dugmore
29 June 2007
This morning I met with the Broad Management Team of the Western Cape
Education Department (WCED), to look at a comprehensive Recovery Plan, to catch
up on time lost, support programmes, and reschedule examinations for the
approximately 50 high schools, which have not written at all.
On behalf of the WCED I welcome the announcement of the official suspension
of the industrial action by organised labour. It is clear that a great deal of
work to mend relationships between teachers, learners, parents and departmental
officials is now needed.
Many teachers have sacrificed income, many learners have been greatly
affected and parents are deeply concerned about the future of their children.
My appeal is for all of us to come together and use every day left in 2007 for
learning and teaching.
Early next week we will engage with unions on the Recovery Plan, and will
work with them to support our learners in preparation for the final half of the
school year. This plan makes no extra demands on teachers and contains no calls
for additional teaching time.
Pupils have to date lost a number of days of learning. We are sure that the
intensive use of the remaining school days, as well as holidays and weekends
for self-study, will ensure success for learners. The WCED through the
districts and with co-operation from schools have arranged Winter Schools,
Saturday classes, and other catch-up programmes.
The Recovery Plan is fourfold and includes the following:
(i) Examinations
To maximise learning time, matrics must remain at school right up to the
start of the examinations, and lower Grades must not stay at home once matric
exams begin. For them, intensive teaching and learning must continue until at
least mid-November.
* All schools that have not written grade 10-12 examinations must start the
examination in July so that the examination is completed by 8 August
2007.
* Schools that are writing their own papers must submit comprehensive
examination plans and their timetable to the Education Management and
Development Centre (EMDC) by 20 July 2007. The schools that have participated
in the common examinations of the Learner Attainment Strategy will receive a
new timetable for grade 12 in due course.
* It is thus important that all learners who have missed writing part of all of
the examination, in these grades, prepare themselves thoroughly to write an
examination in July.
(ii) Winter Schools, Spring Schools, Extra Classes
Districts offices have devised plans for Winter Schools, Spring schools and
extra classes. In most districts these interventions will take place in the
second week of the holiday and interventions will continue late into the year.
The following Winter School Programme has been arranged, while other programmes
are being finalised in discussion with districts and school principals.
EMDC: Overberg
Date/s: 2 to 6 July
Venue: Waveren, Ashton CP
Time: 09h00 - 13h00
Schools: Schools in the Waveren Area, Ashton CP
EMDC: Central
Date/s: 9 to 13 July
Venue: Lagunya & Garlandale
Time: 09h00 - 13h30
Schools: Mountview, Lagunya, Crystal, Phoenix, Ikamvalethu, Kulani
EMDC: East
Date/s: 2 to 6 July
Venue: EMDC Scottsdene
Time: 08h30 - 15h30
Schools: Scottsdene, West Bank, Siphamandla including,
Iqhayiya, Tembelihle, Sizimisele, Manyano
EMDC: North
Date/s: 2 to 6 July
Venue: Beauvallon Sinenjongo
Time: 09h00 - 13h30
Schools: Uitzig, Beauvallon Sinenjongo
EMDC: West Coast/Winelands
Date/s: 9 to 13 July
Venue: Charlston Hil & Stellenzicht
Time: 09h00 - 13h00
Schools: Charlston Hill Stellenzicht
EMDC:
Date/s:
Venue:
Time:
Schools:
* The Southern EMDC is meeting with schools in Mitchell's Plain, Gugulethu,
Nyanga, Crossroads and Philippi, to sort out details of winter schools.
Saturday classes will held in the Southern Cape beginning in the third term
given the distance between schools in the region.
(iii) Electronic and Print Media
The electronic media includes the National Departmental portal - Thuthong -
which carries a huge volume of materials and useful information for learners
with access to the internet. The Western Cape Education Department website also
contains examination papers, answers as well as other relevant information to
support learners. The WCED website could be found at http://wced.wcape.gov.za.
Television and radio will also be extensively used to teach concepts and to
support learners. Interactive TV shows will be broadcast from mid-July up until
the exams begin in November. Radio will be used to inform learners and parents
about collection points for materials, as well as for broadcast lessons as well
as 'question and answer' type shows.
The WCED in collaboration with Umhlobo Wenene, Radio Sonder Grense and Good
Hope will broadcast programmes focusing on the exam papers that were
distributed in the Cape Argus from 13 to 19 June 2007. Broadcasting will take
place at the following times:
* Umhlobo Wenene: From 4 July 2007, Wednesdays, to 1 August 2007 at
20h00
* Radio Sonder Grense: From 7 July 2007, every weekday, to 2 August 2007 at
19h00
* Radio Good Hope: From 21 June 2007, every Thursday, to 2 August 2007 at
19h00.
The Learning Channel and SABC Education are committed to making sure that
South Africa's learners get what they need to pass the year. So learners can
tune in to the daily lessons for Grade 11s and 12s on SABC1 every weekday from
10am to 12noon as well as from 6am to 7am on weekends. Plus you'll find your
free support materials and revision guides in your newspaper and on their
website, http://www.learn.co.za. For more
information call 011 214 7100.
(iv) Provision of learning support materials
The WCED will provide an extensive range of materials to learners who have
been disadvantaged by the strike. The national Department of Education will
also include electronic and print media, which will be distributed to learners
through the most accessible channels. The WCED will provide the following
materials to learners and teachers:
* Booklet for Grades 10-12 focusing on study methods and accelerated
learning.
For all Further Education and Training (FET) and General Education and
Training (GET) teachers: Setting the pace for recovery
* A recovery document will suggest ways of accelerating teaching by
combining activities, integrating assessment standards and give suggestions of
integrated tasks and other tips for accelerated learning in each Grade. It will
identify the core essentials per learning area per grade and reinforce the
Continuous Assessment (CASS) requirements.
Contact details:
For any enquiries, contact Mr M Cameron: 021 467 2622.
District offices can be contacted as follows:
Metropole East
Melvyn Carolyn
Tel: 021 900 7000
Metropole South
Eugene Daniels
Tel: 021 370 2000
Metropole North
Barry Volschenk
Tel: 021 938 3000
Metropole Central
Mackie Kleinsmith
Tel: 021 659 4300
West Coast/Winelands
Jannie Beukes
Tel: 021 860 1200
Breederivier/Overberg
Clifton Frolick
Tel: 023 348 4600
Southern Cape/Karoo
Jan Theron
Tel: 044 803 8300
All districts will allocate a dedicated official to work with schools most
affected by the strike. It is crucial that the management of each school, led
by the principal, take responsibility to develop local recovery plans. My
appeal is for school governing bodies to support our schools.
Each Representative Council of Learners (RCL) should also assist in giving
leadership to high school learners to use every day to learn. Together we can
ensure that we achieve our best for all our learners in 2007.
For enquiries, contact: Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
29 June 2007
