Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Department does a turnaround

The Department of Basic Education will in January implement a ‘new’ curriculum that sees a return to the policies of the previous education system. The National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) is placing focus on a few essential elements - the reduction of the number of learning areas (or subjects) in the intermediate and general education training phases, as well as the prioritisation of English as the first additional language alongside the mother tongue from as early as Grade 1. Another essential element of the new curriculum holds that external assessments of mathematics, as well as home and first additional language, will take place in Grades 3, 6 and 9, while the weight of school-based projects will be decreased in favour of year-end examinations. According to the Department, the new curriculum will be implemented at schools nationwide in a matter of only three years. The first phase will begin in January in Grade R to Grade 3, as well as Grade 10, while the second phase will see Grades 4 to 9 and 11 integrated in 2013, followed by Grade twelve in 2014.

Why the change?
Earlier this year, an Annual National Assessment of the numeracy and literacy abilities of South African intermediate and foundation phase pupils revealed that the national average performance for Grade 3 in literacy and numeracy was only 35% and 28%, respectively. According to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, this result is ‘very sad’. Following these results, a curriculum revision was recommended. Professor of Educational Psychology and Special Education at the University of Zululand, Patrick Sibiya, is wary of the changes. ‘Changing our curriculum from one system to another in such a short space of time cannot be good for the pupils. ‘Three systems in the period of 15 years is exposing our children to experimentation. ‘In my opinion, the best way to examine the quality of education is to identify any objectionable aspects of that system, and then move to correct them.’