 Minister’s ‘bring back the basics’ call hailed by teachers Dineo Matomela, Education Reporter, Weekend Post, TEACHER unions and education analysts have welcomed the move by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to “bring back basics in education” announced in her statement on the curriculum changes in the National Assembly yesterday. Motshekga announced the scrapping of paperwork for teachers and the reduction of learning areas in the intermediate phase from eight to six. She also announced increased support for teachers through training and the reduction of assessments. “We will bring relief to teachers so they can have more time to be teachers. “There will be an increase in teacher support and the number of projects will be reduced to one per subject.” She also said the production of learning material would be placed in the hands of experts, not teachers. She said the changes would be made from next year until 2014. She would communicate the changes to teachers before the end of the year. These changes flowed from a report by a panel of experts appointed to review the curriculum statement. The report entailed interviews with teachers and teacher unions in all nine provinces. Education analyst Graeme Bloch said Motshekga was making the right move and was listening to teachers. “The minister has given a clear lead of what actual outcomes are required and how to achieve this. She should be praised and supported in these bold moves. “Outcomes-based Education is dead; long live the basics of learning and meaningful education outcomes,” he said. National Teachers’ Union vice- president Mtunzi Mbewana commended Motshekga, saying the union shared her vision of going back to basics. “The pupils should know the three Rs – reading, writing and arithmetic. “The teachers will have more time to have a good relationship with the pupils.” He also commended the minister for cutting the learning areas in the intermediate phase. SA Onderwysersunie chief executive Chris Klopper said he believed the move was a step in the right direction. “We’ve long held the view that there are too many subjects in the intermediate phase, and there is not enough teaching time. “We welcome the changes and we believe this is a step in the right direction,” he said. Naptosa president Ezra Ramasehla also welcomed the announcement. “We have been worried about things that stood in the way of teachers. I am referring to where teachers also had an administrative workload. “We think that at the beginning of next year some of the review recommendations will be implemented, for example doing away with too many assessments and things like portfolios.” --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- |
