Alternatives to reopening our schools
DEAR Minister Angie Motshega. The disciples of Jesus tell us that when he was on the cross, the last words he uttered were, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. Posterity may not be so forgiving of you should you not heed the voices of those who feel that opening the schools from grades 1 to 11 is premature. Unlike the Romans who crucified Christ, you know what you are doing.
I am aware that many parents would like to see their children out of their hands after a two-month lockdown. But these are no ordinary times and just as we all have had to adjust drastically to new regimes of discipline, we may have to accept the reality that our schools will not be ready to operate normally.
As much as you say parents will not be compelled to send their children to school, you will be creating a logistical nightmare for yourself, teachers and, most importantly, children, if some attend and some remain at home.
As government, the banks, some landlords and some businesses have made concessions to South Africans, you could do the same for our pupils by “progressing” all grades 1 to 11 for this year. You have “progressed” pupils before, this time it could be justified.
I suggest teachers spend the rest of 2020 preparing online material and worksheets which could be distributed to parents once a month, on a staggered basis, for the rest of the year. Such material should cover the core curriculum and contain some form of marking memorandum. I suggest pupils receive an exemplar exam paper in November to familiarise them with what they ought to have to learned.
In 2021, Deo volente, the first few months could be spent consolidating the core curriculum of the previous year. Call this catch-up. As for assessment, you and your teachers are well qualified: you have had continuous assessment and summative assessment for many years .
For Grade 12s, I suggest an exemplar matric paper be handed out at the end of October, followed by a crash course in November (if all goes well) and an exam in December or January. Universities could begin a month later in 2021.
On what authority do I make the above suggestions? I was an inspector of education (English) in the newly created Gauteng Department of Education in 1994 when African, white, Indian and coloured pupils had to write a common exam in matric. It was a mammoth task setting those papers, but my examiners and I pulled it off. We created the blueprint the GDE has followed for over two decades.
HARRY SEWLALL | Extraordinary Professor,
Parkmore