“Backing the most important team of 2010”
Good afternoon
I am delighted to have this opportunity to address our Grade 12 learners before the official start of the final National Senior Certificate examinations next Monday.
One of the first strategic objectives this Government set was to improve learner outcomes in the Western Cape.
And in January this year, the Western Cape Education Department resolved to strive unflinchingly towards improving the results of the Grade 12 Class of 2010. The department put unprecedented resources into the provision of additional assistance to you, our Grade 12 learners.
This included a range of initiatives which I will discuss later.
We have made this extra special effort in the context of a very difficult year, for educators, officials and learners alike.One of the major obstacles we have had to overcome was the extended school holidays as a result of the Soccer World Cup.
I have always said, from the beginning of the year, that the most important team in the Western Cape is the Class of 2010 and that is the team that we should all support.
I have witnessed first hand how this has grown into something into something even bigger than I had ever imagined.
This team comprises of WCED officials, your teachers and principals, as well as of course - the most important team members - you.
Essentially, you have us, the education department in the backline, feeding our teachers in the midfield resources, support and skills. They are in turn, passing their knowledge and skills onto you - the strikers up front.
Many of you are aware of the programmes and initiatives that were introduced to you this year. For example, the tutoring programme for schools that achieved below the provincial average, the “Tips for Success” booklet for all our Grade 12s, the school holiday programmes, the roll-out of past examination papers and of course, the telematics programme that you are all participating in today. As well as the launch of the 'Own Your Own Future, Our Your Own Success. Study hard to pass YOUR matric' campaign, which was aimed at motivating and inspiring Grade 12s to work to the best of their ability.
However, many of you do not know that behind the scenes much more has been done to assist you “up front”.For instance, we increased the monitoring of attendance of your teachers at school so that they were present to provide you with your tuition, increased the number of textbooks to schools for Grade 12s, provided intensive management support to some of your principals that needed our assistance and subject-specific support to some of your teachers that were struggling with teaching you complex areas of the syllabus.
Like any professional soccer team, players are constantly plagued with injuries and challenges, similarly, this year, you have been faced with some obstacles. For example, the extended June/July holiday during the World Cup, and then the recent public servants strike.
However, despite these challenges, our team has remained strong. And I cannot tell you how proud I am of all of you for rising above these circumstances, and in true team spirit, ensuring that your learning and development was disrupted as little as possible.
This teamwork could be seen in all areas of the province throughout the year. Learners came together to form study groups, schools and educators rallied together to form holiday camps, officials gathered at district offices and schools to provide additional teaching support.
The enthusiasm and the “gees” of this team has been phenomenal.
Every team member has stood up to the plate to ensure, where possible, that each team member had the necessary sup port they needed to get through the year.
So the ball is now on your side of the field. It is now up to you to make that final strike in the back of the net.
In January, we hope to celebrate your victory.
Good luck, and remember, we are here to support you right up until the final whistle blows.
Ke Nako - it is time. Let us show the rest of the country what Team 2010 Western Cape can achieve.
End of message.
Information on telematics programme: Thousands of Grade 12 learners receive tuition via an interactive satellite broadcast.
In January, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) made a commitment to improve Grade 12 learner outcomes in the Western Cape and initiated the campaign “Own YOUR future. Own YOUR success. Study hard to pass YOUR matric” which both encourages and supports learners to put maximum effort into their studies in the remaining months of their school career up to their final National Senior Certificate Examinations.
One of the interventions introduced to schools is the Interactive Telematics Programme which is a collaborative project between the WCED and the Division of Telematic Services at Stellenbosch University.
The programme includes broadcasting lessons from a studio at Stellenbosch University to learners in schools across the province using satellite technology, laptops and cellphones, creating a kind of ‘cyber-classroom’ which makes it possible for the WCED to reach large numbers of learners and provide them with quality individual tutoring.
All the schools are well equipped with satellite equipment for receiving video, audio and data signals, including a television monitor or data projector and sound system as well as cell phones and card readers, which are used for login and interaction with the presenter, therefore making it possible for learners to interact with the presenters.
The programme creates a unique platform for dialogue in a virtual setting, allowing learners to ‘interrupt’ the presenter to ask questions or request a detailed explanation of the educational material, when necessary, and giving the presenter an opportunity to respond to comments and questions.
The programme was first piloted in 2009, broadcasting lessons to 10 schools. The success of this pilot prompted the WCED to extend the programme to a further 110 schools. The programme now runs in 120 schools in the eight education districts and reaches around 14 000 learners.
Lessons are delivered by educators who are experts in their relevant field in subjects that have historically low pass rates such as Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Sciences, Accounting, English First Additional Language and Afrikaans First Language. Geography has also been included this year.
Presenters select the challenging aspects of the curriculum and systematically unpack concepts for learners to engage with.
In order to maximise this intervention a significant amount of preparation has gone into planning the programme, with schools receiving lesson plans to assist teachers in preparing learners for each broadcast and also to assist and support learners during and after the broadcast.
The University of Stellenbosch developed a website where resources would be uploaded and Senior Curriculum Planners of the six subjects have developed learning support material for learners which is to be used during the lessons.
All lessons are recorded on DVD and were sent to schools in the third term for revision purposes. The recorded broadcasts also provided useful during the strike, where the WCED, in co-operation with Stellenbosch University, expanded the telematics programme from two days a week to five, using previously recorded broadcasts on alternative days.
This year, this programme has received phenomenal support from learners across the province and we look forward to see what impact it will make on the overall performance of our learners this year.
I would like to thank Stellenbosch University and officials of the WCED for making this intervention possible and to the principals and educators for embracing this project and making it a success.
Media enquiries:
Bronagh Casey, Spokesperson for the Minister of Education, Donald Grant Western Cape
Cell: 072 7241 422
Tel: 021 467 2377
