The local government has launched a massive R1.2 billion educational programme aimed at reversing the COVID-19 learning losses in the Western Cape.
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Based on the 2022 systemic test results released by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), more than half of Grade 3, 6 and 9 learners cannot achieve the basic pass score for mathematics and reading.
‘We simply cannot say that a child is receiving quality education if more than half of our Grade 3, 6, and 9, learners cannot achieve the basic pass score for Mathematics and Reading.’
‘We have to act, and we have to act decisively, and we have to act in a way that has impact in order to deal with what is a full-blown learning crisis,’ said WCED in a statement.
The programme is called #BackOnTrack and promises to take an aggressive approach to improving learning outcomes in Western Cape schools over the next three years.
The #BackOnTrack programme is said to be unprecedented and will mark a big change from ‘business as usual’ in our schools.
An extra 333 schools will receive support based on the systemic test results; this is in addition to the 1 100 schools already receiving support in the Foundation Phase since 2022.
The new schools selected will add an additional 126 000 learners, 8 980 teachers and 28 000 parents to the 310 000 learners and 10 000 teachers already participating in focus group work in the Foundation Phase.
The #BackOnTrack programme provides learning support to all school phases, from the Foundation Phase through to Grade 12.
The programme is structured to provide a variety of teaching and support methods through hybrid learning.
‘We will be taking some of our Grade 4, 7 and 8 teachers out of class every ten days, for targeted support. And our Grade 12s will participate in biweekly online afternoon sessions with expert presenters in a wide range of subjects.’
‘We will be applying tried and tested methods in grades where they have not previously been used. For example, where Saturday classes were previously used for matrics in preparation for their exams, Grades 4, 7 and 8 will now have #BackOnTrack classes on Saturdays.’
‘The #BackOnTrack programme complements and builds on existing programmes. We are entrenching previously successful interventions that have been shown to work, including as proven eLearning platforms like the Maths Curriculum Online programme in the Foundation Phase, while introducing new ways of teaching and learning,’ stated the WCED.
The programme is closely monitored with updates and opportunities to integrate feedback every two weeks in order to effectively address any challenges and adapt to changes over the three-year period.
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