R28bn allocated to improve per formance in early grades
FUNDING to public schools has been increased to enhance their performance.
Eastern Cape Education MEC Mandla Makupula said R28-billion would be allocated to public schools over the next three years.
He said the 2018-19 budget for public schools marked the beginning of a sustained focus on improving the quality of primary schooling in the Eastern Cape.
“Indications from the 2017 academic report are that performance challenges are huge in the early grades, with repetition rates running high in Grades 1, 2, 3, as well as 10 and 11.
“In the foundation phase alone, a total of 76 000 pupils were repeating, with 36 000 of these pupils repeating Grade 1.
“In real terms, over 20% of Grade 1 pupils are in classes of 50 and above, resulting in 692 public schools having class sizes in excess of 45,” he said.
Makupula said the results from the Annual Assessments and international studies such as the PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy) indicate that pupils between Grades 4 to 7 are achieving below acceptable standards in languages and mathematics.
“In the short-term, the department is top slicing 1 880 posts from the 2018 PPN [Post Provision Norms] for foundation phase posts to reduce class sizes and focus on reading.
“In addition, the department is deploying graded readers for all foundation phase pupils.
“A review of the implementation of the balanced language approach will see a much greater focus on more and earlier individual reading,” Makupula said.
Makupula said the department would in the medium to long-term focus on programmes that support implementation of a provincial mathematics and languages strategy in Grades R to 9.
“The strategy focuses on critical aspects that will offer the greatest impact over the next few years, and these include ensuring that there is a teacher in class every day, teaching, professional development of teachers, improving classroom practice and methodologies and strengthening parental involvement,” Makupula said.