Govt to push grades 10 and 11

2007-01-09 16:50

Themba Gadebe

Pretoria - Education deputy director-general Penny Vinjevold said the government was going to work even harder this year to ensure higher pass rates among grade 10 and 11 pupils who were doing the new national curriculum statement (NSC).

The NSC was introduced last year.

Vinjevold was speaking on the eve of thousands of pupils in inland provinces returning to school on Wednesday, reports Bua News.

Vinjevold said a meeting was to take place between the national department and provincial ones later this month to discuss the pass rate of grade 10s.

The 2006 Grade 10s were the first class to do the new curriculum.

Vinjevold said: "Indications are that everything went smoothly.

New subjects included

"But, there will always be room for improvement because that was a major shift," she said.

The new curriculum included new subjects such as life orientation and mathematics literacy.

The subjects are compulsory, although one can opt for mathematics as opposed to mathematics literacy.

Maths is conceptual, abstract and prepares learners for courses like engineering, while mathematics literacy deals with figures used in daily life such as reading bank statements.

Studying two of the country's 11 official languages also will be compulsory.

The NSC also puts more emphasis on Africa, its history, geography, music and dance.

The curriculum allows pupils to study seven subjects while previously they did only six. National education spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele told BuaNews that the department would investigate reasons for poor performance after last year's senior certificate examination results.

Last year's matrics achieved a 66.6% national pass rate, 1.7% down on the previous year.

Ngqengelele said provinces needed to give reports about their matric performances.

"Provinces also will be looking at changing schools' management, such as the appointment of new principals," said Ngqengelele.

North West education department was finalising a strategy to score higher matric percentages, said spokesperson Charles Raseala.

Computers for schools

He said it was all systems go for teachers and pupils alike and that "schools have ordered the books and learning material".

The province is expecting nearly a million pupils this year.

Limpopo had the lowest matric-pass rate last year.

As part of the national department's commitment to support schools, the deputy education minister Enver Surty will be handing over computers, books and science kits to two schools in Limpopo.

- News24