The Deputy Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty appealed to Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) management to devise means to lessen drop out of learners after Grade 9 and deal with issues of learner migration from rural to urban schools.
Surty was addressing ECDoE management on the eve of the Nelson Mandela Day at the education leadership institute in East London.
Among other issues he raised was illiteracy and in order to overcome it, requires great focus at foundation phase which is usually taken for granted. The foundation phase has to equip learners with information that will come up with good matric results.
Surty further pointed out other key issues which are fundamental in childhood development, like:
* practitioners must be adequately qualified
* schools must be safe and conducive for learning
* information communication technology (ICT) must be introduced to students at foundation phase
* teachers must be dedicated to their work
* resources must be available in classes to enhance teaching and learning standards.
“Now is the time to do things differently to improve the pass rate of learners and there is no reason not to work hard to do better. Therefore I appeal to all leaders to work hand in hand, improve Grade 12 results as they are the requirement to enter tertiary level,” he said.
Issued by: Department of Education, Eastern Cape provincial Government
23 July 2009
Source: Department of Education, Eastern Cape provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za/)
