Matrics gear up for prelims

THERE is just over a week to go before city matrics start their preliminary examinations, which get under way on Wednesday next week (August 30).

Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe, said on Friday that the 2018 Grade 12 cohort had received additional support through various programmes conducted by the department.

“We are confident that these programmes will yield measurable benefits and improve pupil outcomes in the 2018 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination.”

Intervention programmes that unfolded during the first three terms of this year included lock-in sessions for gateway subjects, holiday camps (Autumn and Winter camps), Saturday working sessions for progressed pupils offering Mathematical Literacy, Mathematics and Physical Sciences focused camps for top-achieving pupils, whole school-day teaching conducted in high enrolment districts, psycho-social support provided to pupils in the Frances Baard and John Taolo Gaetsewe districts, mapwork working sessions in all five districts, lead-teachers deployed to schools with poor performance in the gateway subjects, novice teachers support programmes, the distribution of “Mind-the-Gap” books to all high and combined schools, the development of common assessment tasks for selected high enrolment subjects, drama presentations for Home Languages in all five districts, Saturday classes at selected schools, on-site support to all prioritised high and combined schools and extended Spring camps.

“These programmes have and will continue to benefit pupils across various performance bands. In addition to the above mentioned interventions, various programmes were also conducted to support Grade 12 teachers,” Van der Merwe said.

The preliminary examinations will continue until September 21.