WENDY MOTHATA |

THE minister of Basic Education said on Sunday that she is confident the schools are ready for learners to
return to full-time learning from Monday.

Mosthekga was briefing the media on the state of readiness for the reopening of schools.
This is after the Cabinet approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations last week.
The cabinet decided to end rotational learning and remove social distancing measures.

Motshekga said that pupils at primary, secondary and special schools would commence full-time
attendance. She added that the rotational timetable which was implemented due to the COVID-19
pandemic is coming to an end.

“In all our engagements, there has been overwhelming support for the full return of learners. We are
confident that schools are ready for the new norm,” Motshekga said.

The minister said that on Sunday a Gazette would be published which will usher the new environment as
per the cabinet’s decision.

“We have today published a Gazette, which officially ushers in the new environment as per the cabinet
decision. The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) met twice this week, and agreed that full-time
attendance starts tomorrow,” she said.

Motshekga said that the return to daily attendance will assist the sector to intensify its implementation
of the curriculum recovery plan.

“The return to normal timetabling will assist the sector to intensify its implementation of the curriculum
recovery plan. The learning losses incurred in the past two years are indisputably devastating.”
She further added that the first step towards addressing the crisis of lost learning is to prevent further
disruptions.

“The first step towards addressing the crisis of lost learning is to prevent further disruptions to school
time, and prevent other learning losses while ensuring the health and safety of our school communities.
The second step is to introduce measures to catch up on the time, as well as the teaching and learning
that was lost through the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The minister further encouraged people to vaccinate.

“We do want everyone in the sector to vaccinate, so we are encouraging our teachers to go for a
booster which is available at different health sites. We also discussed the need to make sure that we
encourage our young people to vaccinate,” Motshekga said.

The minister further addressed the issue of late delivery of stationary and overcrowding in some of the
schools.

“The matter of late delivery of stationery and textbooks in the Eastern Cape, in particular, was raised
sharply in the meetings with stakeholders. Overcrowding was also a common concern, identified as one
needing special attention.”

-Inside Education

WENDY MOTHATA |

THE Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga will on Sunday morning brief the media on the state of
readiness as schools prepare to welcome their full complement of learners.

“Basic Education Minister, Mrs Angie Motshekga will tomorrow, Sunday 06 February, host a media
briefing to provide an update on the state of readiness as schools prepare to welcome their full
complement of learners.

This is after the Cabinet approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations last week.
“Primary, secondary and special schools will return to daily attendance. The regulatory provision for the
social distancing of one metre for learners in schools has also been removed. The Ministers of Health
and Basic Education will in the coming days’ issue directives reflecting on this new approach,” the
Cabinet statement said.

The Department of Basic Education has welcomed the decision by Cabinet to allow schools to return to
full-time learning in all schools.

“The Department of Basic Education welcomes the decision by Cabinet to allow schools to return to full-
time learning in all schools,” said department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga.

Mhlanga said that the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) agreed that schools would return to normal
timetable from Monday 7 February 2022.

-Inside Education

WENDY MOTHATA |

ONE SA (OSA) leader Mmusi Maimane and the members of the party have handed over a memorandum to the Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

The memorandum detail OSA’s plan to “rescue” the basic education department.

“This document outlines a rescue plan that will ensure that our young people have access to upwards economic mobility, in which they can become the future industrialists that Africa needs and future scientists who discover the cures for diseases of the present and future,” OSA said.

“Our nation’s toughest challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality cannot be addressed without dealing with the elephant in the room — the dismal state of our education system. We are failing to educate our young people and we need to do better.”

Recently, Maimane questioned the quality of education being offered in South Africa and called for an end to the 30% pass mark.

“A 30% pass mark undermines the intellect of SA’s youth and allows for obfuscation of the basic education crisis, education leaders to escape accountabilities and the entrenchment of mediocrity and low expectations,” Maimane said.

Last month, quality assurance council, Umalusi, reiterated that no learner in South Africa will be able to pass their matric by obtaining 30% in all subjects.

“Pass rates at this level are as old as the matric certificate itself, which is more than 100 years old. If learners were to obtain 30% in all subjects, they would fail. We have to remind each other what the purpose of the National Senior Certificate is. The National Senior Certificate gives learners access to a number of post-school opportunities,” said Umalusi CEO Mafu Rakometsi.

Furthermore, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said the debate and claims made about the 30% pass mark demonstrated a lack of understanding about the NSC pass requirements.

The requirements are split into three categories which qualify pupils either for bachelor’s degree or diploma studies and the higher certificate pass.

To obtain a bachelor pass, explained the minister, pupils are required to get a minimum of 40% for their home language, 50% in four other subjects and at least 30% for the language of learning. For a diploma pass, pupils must obtain 40% for their home language, at least 40% in three other subjects and a minimum of 30% in the language of learning. For a higher certificate pass, the home language pass mark remains 40%, at least 30% in the language of learning and at least 40% in two subjects and a minimum of 30% in other subjects 

OSA proposes 10 interventions that would provide a stable foundation for progressive development in the department in the coming years.

Drop the 30% pass mark for subjectsIntroduce an independent education ombudsman     Raise salaries for educators and curtail union powerReplace life orientation with mandatory skills subjectsIncentivise pupils during the academic yearPrioritise the primary phase of educationImplement tighter security at all schools Expand extended programmes for underperforming pupilsReprioritise the budget for digital learning and infrastructureConduct a nationwide teacher skills audit

– Inside Education

WENDY MOTHATA |

THE Department of Basic Education (DBE) has announced that learners who have written their National Senior Certificate exams in November 2021 and are not satisfied with the results or have missed some of the exam sessions due to other circumstances are urged to register and re-write their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam.

“For those that would like to re-write their NSC exam, you are given the chance the to do so,” the statement said.

The Ma your June registration closes 11 February 2022.

November registrations close 18 February 2022.

Conditions for entry

Candidates who were absent with a valid reason (medically unfit, death in the immediate family or other special reasons)

Candidates who want to improve their overall achievement status, or only want to improve the achievement of a subject.

In the case where a candidate was absent for one or more papers in the November exam with a valid reason, the candidate has to write all the papers for the registered subject(s).

In the case where an irregular is being investigated – A provisional enrolment of NSC June examination may be granted to the candidate concerned, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Candidates who were unable to write or complete one or more of the NSC November examination question papers for reasons other than illness, injury or death in the family, may apply to write the NSC June examination, provided that a written report s submitted by the principal of the school to the Head of the assessment body.

The DBE said the candidates can only register for subjects which they were registered for in any November examination.

– Inside Education

Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande has confirmed that government plans an inflation-linked price hike for colleges and universities in South Africa for the 2022 academic year.

In a media briefing on Monday (1 February), Nzimande said this will likely include:

A CPI increase to a maximum of 4.23% for tuition fees;A CPI+2% increase to a maximum of 6.23% on accommodation fees.

“I would like to point out that fee increases are agreed upon in the sector as part of a social compact that has been in place since 2016, the only year when fees were not increased.

“Since 2016, we have worked together with the sector on inflation-linked increases, to ensure that fee increases remain affordable,” he said.

Nzimande said that the long-term stability and sustainability of the Higher Education sector relies in a significant measure on tuition and residence fee income to universities, with the government currently working on a new fee regulatory policy framework.

“It should also be noted that the costs of providing university education continue to increase, and it is therefore not sustainable to consider lower than inflation fee increases.

“Fee increases are necessitated by obvious factors, including, increase in workers’ wages and staff salaries, increase in electricity and water tariffs, rising food prices, books and learning materials, and generally the rise in inflation.”

Growing debt 

Data shared by Nzimande shows that student debt has grown in South Africa’s university sector significantly in recent years.

The unaudited data showed that an estimated R6.1 billion was owed by students at the start of the 2021 academic year

Audited accumulated gross student debt as of 31 December 2020 is R16.5 billion. The amount is inclusive of students who have exited the universities with debt.

A survey conducted by the Department in 2021 showed that an estimated 56.2% of students with debt owe less than R10,000; 32.9% owe between R10,000 and R50,000; and 10.9% owe more than R50,000. The survey also showed that NSFAS students owe R5.3 billion.

New model

In addressing matters of student financial aid and student debt, Nzimande said his department is hard at work developing recommendations for a comprehensive student financial aid model for the future.

This model will incorporate the existing funding available from the state and explore alternative funding sources, he said.

“While we are concerned about the long-term sustainability of the fully-subsidised funding for students from poor and working-class backgrounds, we are also concerned about students considered to be in the “missing middle” and the need for more postgraduate funding opportunities.

“In 2021, I appointed a Ministerial Task Team to support the development of a new student financial aid policy and I am looking forward to receiving the report from the MTT in the first half of 2022.”

Nzimane added that his department has already held talks with the Banking Association of South Africa on work that needs to be done to develop a possible loan scheme for students falling outside the NSFAS funding regime.

“For missing middle students, there are also other funding opportunities available both at an institution level and other sources. We urge that those who are looking for financial support to contact their financial aid offices at their respective institutions,” he said.

–        BusinessTech

WENDY MOTHATA |

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has on Tuesday announced that schools will return to full-time learning from Monday, February 7, 2022.

This is after the Cabinet approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations on Monday.

 “Primary, secondary and special schools will return to daily attendance. The regulatory provision for the social distancing of one metre for learners in schools has also been removed. The Ministers of Health and Basic Education will in the coming days issue directives reflecting on this new approach,” the Cabinet statement said.

The Department of Basic Education has welcomed the decision by Cabinet to allow schools to return to full-time learning in all schools.

“The Department of Basic Education welcomes the decision by Cabinet to allow schools to return to full-time learning in all schools,” said department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga.

Mhlanga said that the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) met on Tuesday morning to process the decision.

“CEM agreed that schools would return to normal time-tabling as from Monday 7 February 2022,” he said.

He further said that a series of meetings have been scheduled with stakeholders to inform them of the decision, “in the meantime, the sector would prepare for the full return of learners.”

Mhlanga said, “the Minister will gazette new directions in the coming days to reflect the Cabinet decision and to also provide guidance ahead of the resumption of traditional time-tabling.”

The Department said the CEM will meet again on Friday.

WHILE most students believe Mathematics is the most difficult subject, top Gauteng and national matric achievers who scored 100% have proven beyond doubt that it is an easy subject.

Four top achievers interviewed by Inside Education, Raymond Mamabolo (17), Kristen Erasmus (18), Mignon Erasmus (18) and Musawenkosi Nzuza (17) acknowledged that to excel in Mathematics and other subjects requires proper planning, hard work and constant practice.

To assist learners who yearn to walk in their path, Inside Education asked the four overachievers to share their secret to excellence in Mathematics and other subjects with the matric class of 2022.

Mamabolo from Chipa-Tabane Secondary School in Cullinan, Tshwane is the top achiever in Secondary School Improvement Programme schools in Gauteng. He is also the top achiever for learners in township schools, nationally. He also scooped a high achiever award in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Geography, provincially and nationally. He scooped seven distinctions in all his subjects. He scored 100% in four subjects, namely, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Life Orientation, 92% English First Additional Language (FAL), 86% Geography and Sepedi Home Language.

Giving tips to excel in Mathematics and overall exams, Mamabolo said Mathematics is an easy subject. Therefore, he urged the 2022 class to allocate time for it and practise constantly.

“Change your mindset and attitude toward the subject. Approaching Maths with an optimistic attitude will definitely help you understand the subject better as it allows room for problem solving in your mind. Mathematics is all about logic. Train your mind to think logically so that you can understand and solve every problem effectively,” said Mamabolo.

“Always be ahead of your teachers. Do not wait for your teacher to introduce a new chapter. Start the chapter at least a week before the teacher introduces it in the classroom. This will make you understand the concept better,” said Mamabolo.

He encouraged the matriculants to tutor their peers, maintaining it will benefit them in their studies.

“Whenever you get a chance, try to teach other people who are struggling with the same topic that you are also struggling with. I know it seems weird but when you teach or explain something to someone else, it enhances your understanding and you are able to notice the concepts you are unfamiliar with.”

Mamabolo said it is important for Mathematics students to know the basics of the subject.

“Know your basics. Mathematics is all about problem solving. Even the difficult questions come from the basics. You just have to break it down into steps. Even questions with complex procedures, all have basic concepts, so all you have to do is break it down. Always do research. Try to use tools like the internet to find past papers and other resources to help you practice and gain more exposure to different Mathematics problems. The examiners ask similar questions, the only difference is the way they ask the questions.”

He said it is important to seek assistance from teachers when experiencing problems with a subject.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your teachers about concepts you are struggling with. Your teachers are there to help, so make use of them,” said Mamabolo.

“Practise, practise, practise. This tip is very important as it is basically what Maths is about. In order to be successful in Mathematics you need to practise. There is no way around this one. Doing at least one Maths problem a day will enhance your problem-solving skills and will set you on the road to becoming a critical thinker. Practising also helps you understand concepts better and you can find different ways of solving problems. Keep practising. I know it will be difficult along the way, but I guarantee it will be worth it. Sometimes you will be demotivated when you do not see any progress, but all you have to do is keep practising and never give up. Do not stop. Mathematics is an easy subject if you can just give it time,” said Mamabolo.

Kristen from Hoërskool Waterkloof in Tshwane is thetop Gauteng overall performing achiever. She scooped nine distinctions for all her matric subjects. She obtained 99% for Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Life Orientation, 98% Alpha Mathematics, Accounting, Afrikaans Home Language, 95% Business Studies, and 89% English Home Language.

“My advice to the matric class of 2022 would be to take it day-by-day. You don’t know what the year will bring, especially because we are amidst a pandemic. Don’t be too set in your idea of what a matric year should be. You should try to be adaptable. You should make the most of the time you have every day and use your time effectively. Do everything in your ability to prepare as well as you can for the exams,” said Kristen.

She added, “My tips for excelling in subjects like Maths would be to know the theory and basic concepts very well because you will be able to do almost any Maths problem if you just use all the basics that you know”.

Kristen said it is also important for students to practise many different Mathematics problems and to use many old exam papers to familiarise themselves with different methods in which the questions could be asked.

Mignon from Hoërskool Zwartkop in Centurion, Tshwane obtained 100% in Mathematics, 99% Alpha Mathematics, 97% Information Technology and Accounting, 95% Life Orientation, 94% Afrikaans Home Language and Physical Sciences, and 91% English FAL.

Mignon said, “Working hard from day one and not procrastinating is important, especially during this pandemic where everything can change in a heartbeat and nothing is cast in stone. I think planning is a crucial part of succeeding in matric. It enables you to spend an equal amount of time on all your subjects”.

“Working through past exam papers is an extremely important component of your exam preparation, especially for subjects like Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Accounting. If you struggle with a certain part of your work (in my case it was financial Mathematics and probability) keep on practising until it gets easier and comes more naturally. Never be afraid to ask questions in class. My teachers were always ready to help me, and I am very thankful to them. It is also important to take breaks in order to remain focused and energised.”

Although Kristen and Mignon share the same surname, they are not related.

Nzuza from PJ Simelane Secondary in Dobsonville scored 100% in Mathematics, 95% Physical Sciences, 93% Life Orientation, 89% IsiZulu, 88% Life Sciences, 86% Computer Applications Technology and 79% English.

Nzuza said, “Students must be selfish with their time. No day must pass without at least an hour of self-study. Frequent interaction with teachers is always helpful to enable you to understand everything in greater detail”.

He encourages students to form study groups as it is easier to understand concepts through the help of others in group discussions.

Taking Inside Education through his study plan that qualified him to obtain 100% in Mathematics and excel in his overall exams, Nzuza said, “I did Maths in between subjects when I was studying. I would do that during my 10-minutes’ breaks when I was refreshing for another subject”.

“I set a target of the number of questions I wanted to complete during that time. I worked through a lot of provincial and national past papers. I attended Kutlwanong, Centre for Maths Science and Technology every Saturday, Sunday and holidays to get assistance with Maths for three hours per day.”

Nzuza said it is extremely important for the class of 2022 to “have a positive attitude and approach it with a smile and happy mood”.

“I would advise the students to practise Maths daily, but they should not sideline other subjects. They must not give up but seek assistance from those who seem to be understanding it. Do a lot of past papers because you will notice that the questions are often similar if you do them a lot,” said Nzuza.

 THE COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that digital learning is required now, not in the future, said Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga.

Addressing a governmental lekgotla on Friday (28 January), Motshekga said there is a need to provide all learners and educators with the necessary technological devices so that they are prepared for work in the 21st century.

She added that her department is currently developing a new programme for online schooling and distance learning, with plans to give every teacher in the country a laptop before her term in office ends. This aligns with a previous mandate by president Cyril Ramaphosa to give every child learning materials on a digital device.

The goal is to provide ‘wall-to-wall’ connectivity and data availability in all basic education offices throughout the country, she said.

Strengthened curriculum 

Motshekga said her department will also embark on a ‘curriculum strengthening process’ to equip learners with 21st-century skills.

“The strengthened curriculum must explicitly state the knowledge, skills, and competencies to be achieved. The curriculum must be inclusive to all, and schools must be appropriately resourced to teach 21st-century skills,” she said.

Motshekga said that her department plans to establish a task team to look at how knowledge, skills and competencies can be explicitly infused or re-packaged in Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) so they can better transition from school to work.

She said this new curriculum must reconsider the assessment regime in all grades to align with competency and skills assessment instead of content and knowledge assessment.

“In the meantime, we must steam ahead with a slick national advocacy campaign to explain and entice young people to engage and choose correctly from our, three-streamed model,” the minister said.

The Department of Basic Education plans to pilot its new General Education Certificate (GEC) for Grade 9 learners later this year, ahead of a national rollout in 2023.

The GEC is intended to formally recognise learners’ achievements at the end of the compulsory phase of schooling. Its primary purpose is to facilitate subject choices beyond Grade 9 and articulation between schools and TVET colleges. Under the current system, hundreds of students leave the school system each year without a qualification, hindering them from finding jobs.

Lost teaching time

Apart from the existing Covid-19 recovery plans, including the trimmed curriculum grades, Motshekga said it was time to ‘take the bull by the horns’ to make up for teaching time lost during the pandemic.

This should include the end of rotational school timetables, as well as updated attendance and enrollment tracking, she said.

Motshekga said her department would also increase learning time by providing extra classes, enforcing attendance at school every day and giving learners more homework.

Increased accessibility

All mainstream schools must be revamped to be friendly to learners with disabilities. In addition, the sector must ensure that there is early intervention to support learners with learning disabilities as soon as they start Grade R, Motshekga said.

“As part of fighting to end the stigma, we must all drive the message that young people with disabilities who drop out must return to schools or those who are not yet enrolled to do so,” she said.

 – BusinessTech

THE United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres says the chaos caused by COVID-19 pandemic in the education system, interrupted the studies of 1.6 billion schools and college students worldwide.

“Some 1.6 billion school and college students had their studies interrupted at the peak of the pandemic and it’s not over yet. Today, school closures continue to disrupt the lives of over 31 million students, exacerbating a global learning crisis. Unless we take action, the share of children leaving school in developing countries who are unable to read could increase from 53 to 70 percent. 

But the turmoil in education goes beyond questions of access and inequality,” announced Guterres in a statement.
Guterres will convene a Summit on Transforming Education in September.

Guterres said, “Our world is changing at a dizzying pace, with technological innovation, unprecedented changes in the world of work, the onset of the climate emergency, and a widespread loss of trust between people and institutions. Conventional education systems are struggling to deliver the knowledge, skills and values we need to create a greener, better and safer future for all”.

He said education is a preeminent public good, and an essential enabler for the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 “The international community cannot afford to be agnostic about its provision, quality and relevance. That is why I am convening a Summit on Transforming Education later this year.”

“The time has come to reignite our collective commitment to education. That means investing in comprehensive plans to help students recover from learning losses. It means putting education at the heart of broader recovery efforts, aimed at transforming economies and societies and accelerating progress on sustainable development. It means financial solidarity with developing countries. And it means embarking on a process of reflection and analysis to identify how national education systems can evolve and transform between now and 2030,” expressed Guterres.

“Summit on Transforming Education will be the first time that world leaders, young people and all education stakeholders come together to consider these fundamental questions. On this International Day of Education, and as we prepare for the Summit later this year, I call on everyone to unite around education as a public good and a top political priority for the recovery and beyond,” said Guterres on International Day of Education.

THE deadline for late online applications for Grade One and Eight pupils in the Gauteng province is at midnight

Meaning, parents are only left with few hours to register their children at schools with available spaces around the province.

In an attempt to test the Gauteng Department of Education’s online late application system, Inside Education visited the website and it was functioning properly before going to press.

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi’s spokesman, Steve Mabona said, currently, “a total of 26 482 late applications have received placement. This amounts to a total of 16 977 Grade 1 learners and 9 505 Grade 8 learners who have been placed during the late applications period”.

The MEC’s Office has encouraged parents and guardians who have not had an opportunity to apply for their children to visit the Department’s website, www.gdeadmissions.gov.za for registration.

However, Lesufi’s Office said, “only schools that have capacity to place learners will be available”.

MEC Lesufi, thanked everyone who utilised the online system to apply.

Lesufi reassured the public that “officials are hard at work to review the system, to accommodate all concerns raised. Subsequently, a report will be tabled just before the commencement of the 2023 online application period”.