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Education has been identified as a national priority under the new government and administration of President Jacob Zuma.
The president recently shared with the principals of South Africa that a deeper, broader conversation about Education must happen on an ongoing basis in line with the State of the Nation Address – ‘Revival of the Education System.’
Getting the basics right was a strong message from our President in creating a partnership with all our schools principals. A 10-point programme has been developed to address the key interventions needed for the schooling system:
A. In-School:
- Teachers to be in-class, on time, teaching. Teachers also to be required to use textbooks in class.
- Focus efforts on improving the quality of early childhood education and primary schools, including implementing the “Foundations for Learning” Campaign emphasizing the promotion of language and numeracy.
- Conduct external tests for All Grade 3 and Grade 6 learners every year, and provide the results to parents.
- Ensure effective evaluation of all teachers based on the extent to which learner performances improve, with results influencing occupationally specific dispensation (OSD) pay for teachers;
- Enhance recruitment of quality teachers and strengthen teacher development.
B. Support to School
- Strengthen management capacity to ensure working districts and schools. This entails bring in management capacity from the private sector, civil society and in the public sector.
- Increase the use of ICT in education, including audiovisual teaching materials in the classroom to supplement teaching and demonstrate quality teaching to learners and educators.
- Improve national-provincial alignment and efficiency of education expenditure, through procuring textbooks nationally and allocating resources to improve district capacity.
C. Societal
- Develop a societal compact for quality education. This will include a National Consultative Forum dedicated to clarifying the “non-negotiables” and performance targets for key stakeholders, and monitoring thereof.
- Implementing poverty-combating measures that improve the environment for learning and teaching such as a nutrition programme, basic infrastructure for schools and social support for children.
To compliment the 10-Point Programme Macmillan is proud to state that as a company it prides itself in its vast educational and support materials that will assist tremendously in addressing the 10-Point Programme for our Schools.
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