An inter-governmental initiative is underway to develop an integrated Maths, Science and Technology (MST) Strategy, which links to the Government priority of skills development.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) hosted officials from the Departments of Higher Education and Training and Science and Technology, and other relevant stakeholders, to lay the groundwork for the integrated strategy.
This roundtable was held at 222 Struben Street in Pretoria on 18 March 2014.
The roundtable discussion touched on a number of key areas for the successful implementation of an integrated strategy such as teacher development, resource utilisation and the training of teachers entering schools to ensure that the teaching of these key subjects at South African schools are of the highest standard.
Addressing the meeting, Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga stressed that the roundtable was as a result of concerns raised by Cabinet around the delivery of Maths, Science and Technology education in schools.
“My hope is that this meeting will produce a concrete strategy to shake the system of under performance in these key areas,” said the Minister. “In particular we have noticed a need for urgent intervention in Grade 9.”
The roundtable also follows on the report by the Ministerial Committee on MST, which was released in 2013.
The Task Team recommended the following urgent steps for the effective operationalisation of the MST Strategy, many of which are underway:
- The establishment of a dedicated MST Office in the department;
- Development of a focused Teacher Development and Support Programme;
- Development of Norms and Standards for a resource provisioning and management programme; and
- Strengthening and re-orientation of the Dinaledi Programme.
“Our aim is to raise participation and performance in MST, particularly for historically disadvantaged learners,” said the Minister. “To achieve this we should look at strengthening the relationship between schools and teacher training.”
“We should look at steps for urgent intervention but at the same time we should not lose sight of the department’s long-term vision.”
The roundtable resolved that the three sister departments would convene a task-team to address proposals in bi-lateral meetings.
“The task team will formulate a three-prong plan for the development of the strategy. Firstly, would be to look at what could be done immediately. Secondly, what can be done in 2014 and thirdly what can be done in the period up to 2019,” said the Director-General of the DBE, Mr Bobby Soobrayan. “The task team will also engage with the existing plans to see where gaps exist and how best to manage them.”
