Gauteng matric exams preparations on the roll

9 April 2010

The national final matric exams may be some seven months away, but Gauteng schools are already making preparations.

The MEC for Education in Gauteng, Barbara Creecy said the department had introduced the school holidays programme to make sure that school holidays were effectively and fruitfully used by learners.

MEC Creecy said: "Due to last year's matric bad results, the department has started having school holidays programme as foundation the year end exams. The purpose of this is to improve matric results throughout the province."

The other reason for the programme was to start preparations early by doing more camps during July and September holidays.

"On April 18, we will be starting with Saturday classes targeting subjects that our learners struggle with most; maths, science, accounting, technology, history and geography included," she said.

The Gauteng Department of Education has again seen the need that for matriculants to do well it had to start by preparing learners from grades 10 and 11. The other area that they would focus on would be the foundation phase.

"The fact that we have learners who come to high school and cannot read or write is a problem. We must fix the problem as it begins. Obviously it is going to be difficult, but we must make sure that we bring in teachers who can assist," Creecy agreed.

She said that it would be difficult because already 790 primary schools were under performing and that is where they intend to start.

"We want to get these interventions up and running after the world cup. The Saturday school and foundation phase will focus on three areas; language, numeracy and literacy," she said.

She said learners in grade four used English as the medium of instruction, so that would have to change and introduce English in grade R.

"We want to put emphasis on basics phonics. We would like to use the retired teachers as coaches to help support the process, particularly in the Foundation Phase," she concluded.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
9 April 2010
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gautengonline.gov.za/)