Maths teaching from Grade 1-9 still a concern for department
Gauteng Education Department to address issues raised during Lekgotla
THE Gauteng Department of Education is going to develop internal action plans to address issues identified during the three-day Lekgotla that in Boksburg between June 1 and 3.
The department said it would consult with all stakeholders and will continue in its quest to deliver quality education to every learner in Gauteng schools.
Among the issues raised at the Lekgotla was the improvement of maths teaching from Grade one to nine, as it was identified as a vital intervention to raise learner achievement.
Language and its impact on learner performance was also highlighted as a critical issue that needs further exploration.
“The department will convene a quality and learning teaching campaign steering committee to agree on an action plan to take forward the outcomes of the Lekgotla,” said the department’s spokesperson Oupa Bodibe.
In addition, the department raised its concern at the rising number of learners being “home-schooled”, as evidence of non-compliance with registration and authentic assessment.
“There is a need to engage with the national department to regulate home schooling,” Bodibe added.
The department also agreed there was a need to accelerate broad-based improvement in the quality of education to ensure that all learners access education close to where they live.
The Constitutional Court has also granted the department a further 18 months to finalise the matter of feeder zones, as the department wants to revise the policy to address issues of access, equity and redress, which will be finalised with relevant stakeholders.
Moreover, the department said it was critical that the GDE worked in collaboration with higher education institutions to strengthen the pre-service and in-service training of teachers in ICT, as this will help produce educators that are ready to use ICT and reduce the money spent on retraining new, qualified teachers.
In conclusion the department said consensus was reached that the progress achieved in the three years since the department adopted its strategic plan in 2015 should be sustained and areas of concern should be tackled by all stakeholders.
