Monday, 17 May marked 114 days countdown to the matric 2010 examinations. To ensure better results the Gauteng Education Department is running extra classes for matriculants in 96 sites across the province.
Extra lessons will take place every Saturday morning, throughout the June and July 2010 mid-year break as well as in the September school holidays. The programme targets learners from 276 under performing high schools across the province.
The programme is free to all grade 12 learners and involves extra classes in those subjects which resulted in the most matric failures last year namely maths, maths literacy, accounting, physical science, life sciences, and English (first additional language).
Tutors selected to participate in the programme have a proven track record of good results in the six targeted subjects. The Gauteng Department of Education has deployed special monitoring teams to ensure that the programme runs effectively and that quality teaching and learning happens. The programme also provides catering and in certain areas, transports assistance to learners.
"Sustaining improvement in matric performance means that we also need to provide additional support to learners in the same schools who are currently in Grades 10 and 11. Accordingly we are also offering learners in these 276 schools standardised programme of Saturday and vacation classes for learners in grades 10 and 11.
"These classes will generally be school based and cover three subjects namely maths, science and accountancy. Consultations with school governing bodies on the use of schools over the June and July holidays will take place this weekend," says MEC Creecy.
The Gauteng Department of Education conducted research in January to fully understand where it needs to target matric improvement interventions. Out of a total of 30 397 learners who failed matric in 2009, two out of three came from the schools targeted by this programme.
All these schools achieved a less than 70 percent matric pass rate last year. Further analysis of subject pass rates for all subjects offered by the Gauteng Education Department at matric level was done.
Out of 79 subjects offered, six subjects accounted for the bulk of the failures namely: maths, maths literacy, accounting, physical science, life sciences, and English (first additional language).
The programme will run over a four year period while the department increases the capacity of these schools and educators to improve learner performance.
Gauteng Department of Education remains committed to ensuring that every learner does well at school and leaves our institutions with the values, knowledge, skills and qualifications that will give them the best chance of success in adult life.
Issued by: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government
25 May 2010
Source: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.education.gpg.gov.za/)
