Basic Education Department’s readiness for new subjects questioned by Parliament

THE Department of Basic Education (DBE) wants to ensure that learners are well placed to take advantage of the opportunities that will be created during the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

The DBE believes this will be accomplished through the introduction of new school subjects. This is to improve the curriculum and prepare learners for the future world of work.

Ocean and marine engineering, aerospace engineering, coding and robotics and entrepreneurship are just a few subjects that the department will introduce which could widen the employment and study options learners have once they leave school.

While these plans are considered a step in the right direction, many stakeholders have questions whether the introduction of these subjects will be practical. These questions remain, as many schools in South Africa lack the resources and facilities needed to teach learners specialised subjects.

The DBE was questioned in this regard in Parliament. The Minister of Basic Education was asked what will be done to capacitate schools with the necessary human resources and infrastructure to enable them to offer the additional subjects to their learners.

The department undertook a consultation period, which allowed stakeholders to make recommendations to the DBE. These consultations revealed three areas which will need attention for the successful introduction of the new school subjects.

These areas are

The provision of human resourcesFunding of Technical Schools, Focus Schools And Schools Of Skills Review of Subject Combinations, and Content Review of Technical Mathematics and Sciences

The DBE acknowledged that development and provision of human resources is critical for the implementation of the new school subjects and the Three Stream Model. However, for proper human resource planning, the department will finalise core inputs which will be the basis for their plans.

These core inputs include determining the targeted number of learners per subject, curriculum structure and number of schools that will offer these subjects. The department will also finalise the norms for the provisioning of posts and finalise the qualifications and standards. 

STAFF REPORTER| Skillsportal