Maths and science marks worry Cyril
Ramaphosa rates SA’S progress in 4IR
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has laid down the challenge for the sector to rethink the current delivery of the curriculum.
Motshekga said while Covid-19 has brought a lot of challenges, it has ushered in opportunities as well.
“There must be systemic but urgent introduction of information communication technology in our schools. This is unavoidable. Through purposeful and effective partnerships, we will drive the reconfiguration and repositioning of basic education that will prepare our kids for a changing world,” she said.
“From this lekgotla, all our committees should have all hands on deck. The international experiences shared here should not be another talk shop.”
Motshekga was speaking at the 2021 basic education lekgotla. Provincial education departments, teacher unions, school governing bodies, pupil organisations and NGOS were among the academics and international guest speakers who were sharing their insights and expertise.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the lekgotla that he was worried about the poor performance of pupils in the science, technology, engineering and maths fields.
“Equipping learners with the knowledge and skills for a
changing world necessitates a relook at these critical subject areas and the curriculum in general. If we are to seize the opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), our education system must be reoriented towards its development in our country,” said Ramaphosa.
“Even as the pandemic delayed the process last year, the Department of Basic Education is making headway in the
national rollout of coding and robotics. The draft coding and robotics curriculum has been submitted to Umalusi for evaluation and quality assurance, and a draft curriculum will soon be gazetted.”
The government said during the course of this year, 200 schools will be piloting the draft curriculum from grades R to 3 and 1 000 schools will be piloting the grade 7 curriculum.
The draft coding and robotics curriculum has been submitted
1st spot:
Karla Reinecke (Hoërskool Waterkloof)
The genius from
Tshwane scored nine distinctions in English
First Additional Language, Afrikaans Home
Language, French Second Additional Language, History, Applied
Mathematics, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Life Orientation.
“Covid-19 was definitely a challenge, but the support of the teachers helped me succeed. My advice to the class of 2021 is to live a balanced life, eat healthy and remember to rest,” said Reinecke. Reinecke will be studying biochemistry at the North West University.
“The whole experience of studying through a pandemic has been profitable. It has helped me set goals for myself and follow through on them, this will help me a lot in my new life as a student.”
2nd spot:
Carla Dippenaar (Hoërskool Waterkloof)
“The 2020 academic year started out great and then we were hit by the pandemic.
This forced us to relook at how we studied and had to dig deep to look for ways to stay focused when not in a classroom environment,” she says. “My amazing teachers also helped out a lot.”
Dippenaar scored top marks in English First Additional Language, Afrikaans Home Language, Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, Accounting, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Life Orientation.
She will be studying medicine.
3rd spot:
Noelle van der Walt (Hoërskool Menlopark)
The 18-year-old Van der Walt attained eight distinctions in English First Additional Language, Afrikaans Home Language, Geography, Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Life Orientation.
She credits her success to her “dedicated teachers”.
“Our teachers really chipped in big-time and the extra [learning] hours put us at a good place. Covid-19 has also built my self-confidence to believe that I can achieve anything despite obstacles.”
Van der Walt has been accepted to study medicine at the University of Stellenbosch.