Question No. 71
Dr J C Kloppers-Lourens (Democratic Alliance) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
What problems have her department identified that impair the quality of teaching?
Reply:
The department has identified a variety of factors that affect the quality of teaching through various reports such as the curriculum implementation review commissioned by the minister in 2009. These are:
1. Time on task
The issue of teacher time on teaching tasks and preparation are first steps to be addressed. The minister, supported by the Presidency and Cabinet, has launched a programme to tackle this problem. An imbizo was held with principals and a social contract discussed with teacher unions regarding this matter.
2. Levels of subject content knowledge and pedagogical skills
We have identified low levels of subject content knowledge and pedagogical skills as being key areas needing attention in the teaching corps. Future teacher development programmes will be more focussed on developing teacher competences in key learning areas such as languages and maths, foundation phase teaching and the 29 matric subjects.
3. Difficulties with the implementation of the national curriculum statement. As a result of the ministerial review of the implementation of the curriculum, a widely communicated plan for the implementation and support of the national curriculum statement has been released. Our attention is focused on reducing administrative overload on teachers, making assessment requirements clearer and simpler, strengthening the role of subject advisors, providing text-books and simplifying the transition and overload in the intermediate phase.
Issued by: Department of Basic Education
2 March 2010
Source: Department of Education (http://www.education.gov.za/)
