Winter schools in race against time
Tough battle for some pupils who were without teachers
WINTER classes are set to begin at a number of schools in the Eastern Cape next week in an attempt to catch up with the syllabus.
For some school principals it’s a race against time to prepare pupils for the September preliminary exams – the best test to measure matric results.
Schools in the province have had a tough battle with a lack of teachers, including critical subjects like maths and English.
The debacle over the reappointment of temporary teachers added to the trouble with some schools skipping certain subjects. Some schools never bothered to test pupils during the June exams to assess progress.
Now teachers and pupils will sacrifice their holidays amid ongoing plans by the provincial education department to set up winter schools for poor performing schools.
School prinicipals, who spoke to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, said plans were drawn up and most relied on the supplements provided by the newspaper.
In East London, John Bisseker Senior Secondary deputy principal Tyrone Vengadajellum said pupils were geared up for extra classes.
“We have our own winter classes and do not depend on those offered by the department. We’ve always used the supplement in the Dispatch to help our pupils and it has worked wonders over the years.”
Vengadajellum said while some matric pupils would be attending classes at the school another group would be at the University of Fort Hare for lessons arranged by the department.
There were about 130 matriculants at the school this year. The school was just one affected by the teacher shortage. They were forced to hire six temporary teachers from their own pocket, while they had to wait for the department to fill another three vacant posts.
Gompo’s Lumko High School principal Mlungisi Links said preparations were under way for winter classes.
“Our highly disciplined and dedicated matrics will be attending these classes with the help and cooperation of parents.”
Links said while other struggling schools would rely on the state’s winter classes his would push for another 80% pass rate.
“For the past 10 years we have maintained that standard. We always use the Dispatch supplements during our extra classes.”
In Dordrecht, Masikhanyise High School principal Sonwabo Tose said plans were in place to start with midyear holiday classes.
“We don’t have a choice but to use these next three weeks to push these pupils to the limit. We don’t have teachers for maths, life science, maths literacy and Xhosa.”
He said this year’s matrics had received a 40% condoned pass in all subjects when they were in Grade 11.
“We are going to rely on the supplement provided by the Dispatch to teach our children.”
Department spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said a plan had been developed to assist poor performing schools.
The schools were drawn from a list obtained from the national department of basic education.
“We’ve identified teachers who have maintained over 60% pass rates in their schools to teach these children.”
Pulumani said there had been funds set aside for winter schools and centres had been identified where children would stay for the winter holidays. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za