Back to school
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Compulsory two-year ECD before Grade 1
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) plans a two-year compulsory Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme before starting Grade 1. The aim is to improve the foundational skills of literacy and numeracy, especially ‘reading with meaning’.
According to Basic Education Minister Angie Motsega, ‘To achieve that goal, we need to urgently proceed with the implementation of the two years of ECD before Grade 1 and the systematic relocation of the responsibility for ECD from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education.’ She further said that the, ‘DBE will develop a comprehensive plan for the different work streams involved in the ECD function shift (Grade R, Grade RR, and Birth to 4), in collaboration with the relevant partners in government. A costed plan for the ECD function shift will be finalised by March 2020.’
Kiswahili and Coding – subjects to be introduced in SA schools: Robotics on the cards
The Council of Education Ministers has agreed to introduce Kiswahili as a subject in South African schools.
According to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, ‘Kenya and Tanzania have committed to assist with the training of educators and the development of appropriate learning and teaching support materials in Kiswahili.’ A few schools in Gauteng have been identified for a pilot next year. If successful the subject will be fully implemented in 2021.
President Ramaphosa pledged in his recent State of The Nation Address to introduce new technology-focused subjects to the curriculum. Coding as a subject will be piloted at 1 000 schools across five provinces in 2020.
More than 43 500 teachers have been trained in computer skills and coding in 2018 and 2019, and training teachers for the new coding curricula began in the second half of this year. Unisa made 24 ICT laboratories country wide available for this teacher training while Google, Teen Geeks and other businesses are also supporting the DBE to develop a coding platform that uses Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to customise teaching and learning.
A robotics curriculum from Grade R – 9 is also on the cards and will have a strong foundation in engineering. Learners will be able to build and operate robots through programming code.
Minister Angie Motshekga explains ‘This robotics curriculum will not require any infrastructure or devices, but will need maker spaces to provide hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build and invent, e.g. through cardboard construction activities.’ This curriculum, ‘will not only develop STEM skills, but also contribute to effectively developing children’s creativity, critical thinking, design thinking, and digital skills.’
Grade 9 – the new exit point for schooling?
The DBE is working on formalising Grade 9 as one of the exit points of schooling, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said during her address at the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union congress at the Nasrec Expo Centre on 26 September 2019.
Motshekga explained that they are, ‘Dealing decisively with the quality and efficiency through the implementation of standardised assessments to reduce failure, repetition, and drop-out rates.’ They are ‘also working on the introduction of multiple qualifications such as the General Education Certificate before the Grade 12 exit qualification. The National Development Plan (NDP) aims for a “world-class assessment system” involving reliable measures of learning for every primary school.’
‘Assessment and examination modalities for the General Education Certificate are being investigated and have been presented at the head of education committee meeting,’ she added. ‘The field trial for the General Education Certificate at the end of Grade 9 is scheduled for completion at the end of July 2020.’ This certification would include technical occupational subjects which have been packaged and submitted to Umalusi for approval.
After a lot of criticism from the public and other sectors the DBE said people should not see the new Grade 9 certificate as a way for learners to leave school. It should be seen as a way to one of three streams – academic, technical vocational and technical/occupational.
The DBE also introduced two new subjects – technical mathematics and technical science or applied mathematics/applied science.
The Grade 9 Certificate would ease the pathways between schools and colleges at a level below Grade 12.
SABA bids farewell to Peter Adams after 40 years
SABA secretary and bookselling legend Peter Adams elected to step down from his role after 40 years of selfless service to the book trade. Peter is a direct descendant of the family who opened Adams Books in Durban in 1865, and served as Managing Director for nearly 50 years. He served in various portfolios at the SA Bookseller’s Association for an uninterrupted period of more than 40 years. According to Peter, ‘Adams has never been totally profit focused. We have tried to give a good and needed service and see bookselling as a vocation as well as a business’. Long may his legacy endure.
