25 August 2007
"A quality curriculum does not only work from 8h00 to 14h00 and inside
classroom walls. A quality curriculum takes the children out into the grounds
to play and exercise. It encourages extra-mural activities. It does not just
lead the child in circles. It takes it into a special place."
So said Education MEC Cameron Dugmore during his keynote address to a
conference on 'Quality Assurance in Education' attended by about 300 academics,
principals, teachers, unions, department officials, school governing bodies and
other members of the education community.
The conference, which has started yesterday and will run until today at the
Cape Town College, Crawford Campus, was addressed by Premier Ebrahim Rasool
this morning.
In his address, Premier Rasool said the previous decade of freedom was about
quantity, for example ensuring more children in school, building more schools
and classrooms, and getting more matric passes. However, the next decade is
about a better curriculum, ensuring better quality of passes, for example in
maths and science, and a quality learner experience.
MEC Dugmore said: "I believe that the need to ensure quality education, for
all, is non-negotiable. When half of our learners leave school before
completing Grade 12 then there is no room for complacency. Then we must ask
hard questions like 'Who is responsible for quality in education?'"
For enquiries, contact:
Gert Witbooi
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
Cell: 082 550 3938
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
25 August 2007
