Education
What plans are in place to improve Grade 6 Mathematics teachers’ content knowledge which is understood to be below grade 6 levels?
THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION
11. The member does not state on what grounds he understands the content knowledge to be below grade 6 levels and we do not acknowledge this. Nevertheless we are continually training our teachers with regards to maths; in particular the WCED is providing the following:
1. An eight-year, in-service training programme offered by an external service provider (Maths Centre) focussing on deep content training, appropriate methodology and the use of concrete apparatus, semi concrete methods leading into abstract strategies towards end of Grade 6. The programme targets 125 schools per annum from Grades 1-6.
2. School based support and further content development per school in afternoon tutorials at least twice per term.
3. In-service training via short courses at Cape Teaching and Learning Institute (CTLI).
4. Standarised Formal Asssessment Tasks/Common tests in Grades 1-6.
5. Approved textbooks to all learners. Teacher’s Guides to all teachers to assist with teacher preparation and answers.
6. National workbooks and answers in hardcopy and electronically on WCED website as a supplementary resource to textbooks.
7. Individual support and content training by Subject Advisers during schools visits.
8. Teacher training Grades 1-9 on Stimulating higher order thinking and questioning skills - 2015
9. Support material and training methodology for teaching Mental maths to develop number concept -2015
10. An Accredited Certificate(ACE) 1 year qualification in Mathematics in collaboration with HEI’s to create specialised maths teachers in Grades 5-7 in 2015.
11. Motivational and complementary programmes such as Olympiads, Maths Challenges and conferences/seminars in Mathematics to promote best practice i.e. ‘How I teach” and also to create excitement and an enthusiasm for maths.
