Education
Due to the 2020 lockdown and the consequential school closures:
- How much of the academic content has been covered by each grade during the 2020 academic year;
whether there is overdue content; if so, (a) what are the catch-up plans in this regard and (b) how does her Department plan to manage this at the start of the new academic year?
(1) The data on content coverage during 2020 has proven difficult to collect, as grades were phased in at different times at schools, and schools implemented individual timetables according to their Temporary Revised Education Plans. For example, some schools may have had Grade 3 learners in twice a week, while at others they attended for five days a week. Learners’ home circumstances also resulted in variation regarding the content that could be covered at home. It is thus impossible to provide an accurate measure.
(2) The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has developed a three-year curriculum recovery plan that is being used to guide the catch-up process. This comprises the distribution and mediation of recovery Annual Teaching Plans (ATPs) focussing on the fundamental core content, as well as related competencies, of each subject.
The planned implementation in the WCED is as follows:
- Mediation of the ATPs and school-based assessment plans (SBA) for all subjects with subject teachers during February 2021.
- Development of lessons for each week in all subjects to guide teachers and learners on the core content to be covered as per the ATP. These lessons are provided electronically, as well as in hard copy format to schools, teachers and learners who do not have access to existing digital platforms. For easy distribution, WhatsApp posters are designed with every dissemination. The WCED is also hosting programmes on various TV and radio stations.
- The design elements of the lessons focus on the revision of the foundational knowledge linking it to the content to be covered in the new grade. The approach is to ensure that learners are exposed to time-bound assessment practices and supported to do self-directed and home learning.
- An additional initiative is the comprehensive learner support programmes through the Telematics Schools Project in partnership with Stellenbosch University. There will be live broadcasting of lessons as per a schedule advocated to all schools.
- A comprehensive package of support materials is accessible on the WCED ePortal.
