Question No. 2107
Mr PF Smith (Inkata Freedom Party) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) What her department (a) has done, (b) is doing and (c) will be doing to improve South Africa’s ranking in the foreseeable future with reference to the World Economic Forum’s global information technology report of 2008 to 2009, ranking South Africa at 110 and 132 respectively for the quality of its education system, mathematics and science education compared to Tunisia’s ranking of 17 and seven in global terms?
Reply:
1. The Department of Basic Education is committed to ensuring quality education for all children in schools. The national curriculum statement implemented in grade R to 12 which has been internationally benchmarked to ensure that it is responsive and provides learners with the 21st century skills. With effect from 2010 the Department of Basic Education will strengthen the implementation of the national curriculum statement in schools by alleviating the administration burden on teachers and providing sufficient time on teaching and learning.
In particular, the department will continue to strengthen the support for the teaching of literacy and numeracy in the early grades in schools through the expansion of the Foundations for Learning in all schools up to grade six. There will be an annual national assessment conducted for learners in grades one to six and nine in all schools to assess progress in numeracy and literacy which are foundational skills for learning.
The department will further consolidate the Dinaledi Schools project to ensure that the teaching of and performance in mathematics and science are improved. The performance of the Dinaledi schools in 2008 national curriculum statement examinations has demonstrated the value of dedicated teacher training in subject contact knowledge, and the availability of textbooks and other learning and teaching support material (LTSM) in the promotion of mathematics and science. The department will sustain this support in schools.
Source: Department of Education
