By Bhekisisa Mncube
Pietermaritzburg - MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal, Senzo Mchunu, has launched a Matric Intervention Programme, namely Learner Camps, to support all matric learners to prepare for the end of the year examinations.
Mchunu said the improvement of the schooling system requires that interventions made are sustainable and that all components of the system are mobilized to work towards the common goal.
He said the intervention will target all districts that obtained less than 60% in the 2012 Matric results.
Targeted subjects include Physical Science, Mathematics, Accounting, Life Sciences and English.
The purpose of this programme, according to the MEC is to ensure that learners are provided with dedicated support on a sustainable basis and that attention is focused on subjects in which there is underperformance. “We want to improve learner outcomes in these subjects”.
The programme will run from the beginning of 2013 winter vacation and continue throughout the year until all learners have written their final year-end examinations.
The programme is supported by specially trained teachers totaling 608 for all five subjects. These teachers finished their own specialist training last week.
In all districts, learners will be transported to Learner Camps starting on 23 June 2013 until 28 June. Learner camps are scattered throughout the province.
The MEC has impressed upon all districts to ensure that buses transporting learners must be on time and in good condition. He also demands that all bus drivers are fully licensed to drive the buses, and that buses should not carry more than 70 learners. Before being allowed to convey learners, “all bus companies must produce a certificate of road worthiness.”
“Much as we were encouraged by our Grade 12 performance in 2012, we will not rest until we pass all our learners in the province. As a Department we are working tirelessly to achieve our vision of a well-educated, skilled and highly developed citizenry,” he said.
He added: “As we are beginning the countdown to the NSC examinations for 2013, we have declared school holidays and weekends as normal school days. Principals of schools, teachers and learners should take heed of the countdown and double their efforts towards the finishing line that will ensure that we improve on the performance in the 2013 NSC Examinations”. – SAnews.gov.za
