The Minister of Basic Education, Angelina Motshekga recently informed parliament that the department is reviewing the nature of challenges experienced in the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). The decision was informed after the Minister appointed a task team in July 2009 to review the NCS.
The following are some of the key recommendations of the panel:
* The need to reduce the amount of administrative work for teachers, which result from planning and assessment requirement of the NCS
* The discontinuation of learner portfolios
* Reducing the number of learning programmes (subjects) in the intermediate phase (Grade 4 to 6) from eight to six
* Giving priority to English as a first language
* The reassertion of the importance of textbooks and their use in the curriculum
* Targeted curriculum training for teachers
* Developing a coherent, clear and simple five year plan to improve the understanding of the NCS in the system.
Issued by: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government
13 November 2009
Source: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.education.gpg.gov.za/home.asp)
