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BuaNews (Tshwane)

South Africa: Success of Matrics to be Measured Against Set Targets

Luyanda Makapela

25 November 2007

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Cape Town — The Western Cape Department of Education will measure the success of their matric results, due to be released in December, against the targets set by the department earlier this year.

Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore said in a statement: "We have to commit ourselves to excellence on all levels to grow the people we need to grow. The targets provide important benchmarks for measuring our progress."

Earlier this year the department announced that schools were setting matric results targets after careful analysis of last year's results and consultation with the broad education community.

School principals, governing bodies and Student Representative Councils signed commitments during the first term of the school year to set targets to improve the quality of matric pass rates in the Western Cape.

Learners, schools and the departments' support staff later met after the industrial strike in June this year to catch up with lost school time. They decided to hold winter and summer schools, extra classes after hours and on Saturday mornings and radio revision programmes.

"It remains to be seen whether the strike has affected matric results, but catch-up programmes may well have helped to improve the results of those who actively participated by bringing a special focus to their studies," the department said.

The department has called all secondary schools to develop a three-year strategy for improving the number of endorsements achieved in the Grade 12 examinations.

Schools finalised their targets on 30 March 2007. Targets for the following years will be set every year in November.

The department allocated R1 million to help schools in the nodal zones of Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain to fund special initiatives to meet these targets, including after-hours classes and related programmes.

The targets for high schools cover matric endorsement rates, pass rates, and the number of candidates completing mathematics and science on both higher and standard grades.

The department has also set short-term targets for 2007, with a view to setting medium and long-term targets, informed by lessons learnt from this year's target-setting exercise.

These targets include:

•  Schools that achieved a matric pass rate of below 60 percent in 2006 to achieve a pass rate of 60 percent in 2007

•  Schools that achieved above 60 percent in 2006 to aim for a 10 percent increase in 2007

•  Schools that achieved 90 percent in 2006 are encouraged to pursue improved results for 2007, especially an improved endorsement rate

•  All schools should target a 100 percent output of learners within Grade 12 and within the Further Education and Training Band.

Principals and school management teams were also encouraged to consult with all teachers concerned and convene regular meetings with the staff to monitor and track progress towards these targets.

Circuit managers had to facilitate this process with schools and assist schools where necessary.

In October this year, a national workshop for the Western Cape's Special Schools' Strengthening Project was held aimed at making special school functions as resource centres providing curriculum support to mainstream schools throughout the province.

MEC Dugmore said the programme was aimed at preventing learning and developmental barriers and also to help those who were disadvantaged in terms of providing education and support.

At the time, the minister said the programme would also enhance special school teachers to implement the National Curriculum Statement in the classrooms to assist colleagues in mainstream schools with curriculum implementation barriers.

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