MEC Grant Releases the Western Cape Education's Strike Management Plan

The Provincial Government of the Western Cape has developed a comprehensive strike management plan for Education that aims to ensure that we do everything possible to protect the interests of learners in this province.

This plan is based on three main objectives, namely; keeping our learners safe and supervised, ensuring that teaching and learning continues as far as possible, and finally, managing the system so that it functions as effectively as possible despite the disruptions.

All our resources will be used to ensure that these objectives are met, as far as possible, to ensure that the rights of our learners to receive a quality basic education are met in these difficult times.

Keeping our learners safe and supervised

Ensuring the safety of our learners is imperative.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has, through its district offices, communicated with school management teams and governing body structures requirements for appropriate supervisory and safety arrangements.

Learners and parents have been advised by schools on these arrangements and in many instances parents have volunteered to fulfill a classroom supervisory role where educators are absent. We are appealing for volunteers to assist in the supervision of classrooms.

Parents and caregivers are still advised to send their children to school, until notified otherwise.

Yesterday there were isolated incidents of violence and intimidation throughout the province. These unlawful acts were effectively dealt with by the South African Police Services (SAPS). I wish to reiterate that we will not tolerate any kind of unlawful behaviour and that we will use every available mechanism to ensure that the rights of children and teachers attending school are protected.

We would therefore urge striking teachers to act in a responsible and professional manner. If they do not, they will be identified and misconduct charge will be laid against them.

Ensuring learning and teaching continues

As stated in our Strategic Plan, improving learner outcomes in the Western Cape is one of our main priorities, and will continue to be, despite these disruptions.

To mitigate the impact of the ongoing strike on teaching and learning, the WCED has developed a number of curriculum support programmes that will attempt to ensure that at least some form of learning continues over this period.

These programmes support all grades, with a particular focus on our Grade 12s who will begin writing the first practical examination of the National Senior Certificate Examinations in just fifty four (54) days time.

Grade 12 plan

Improving our Grade 12 examination results has been a major focus of ours this year. A number of initiatives have been put in place to assist Grade 12s, which we believe will help offset the impact of the strike on Grade 12s during this period.

As part of the WCED's "Own your future. Own your success. Study hard to pass YOUR matric" campaign, the WCED initiated a number of tutorial programmes throughout the province in the second term.

The tutoring programme aims to increase the pass rate in high enrolment subjects with high failure rates and has garnered much support from our Grade 12s.

This programme is scheduled to continue right up until the start of examinations.

We are confident that these programmes will continue to be a success despite the disruptions. Learners from across the Province participated in these programmes during the extended June/July holiday period, and therefore, we believe, that they will remain unaffected during the strike action.

Another programme that will continue is the Interactive Telematic Teaching programme. The programme currently uses satellite technology, the internet and cell phones to provide expert tuition to Grade 12s in subjects such as Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Sciences and Accounting at one hundred and twenty (120) of our schools.

The Telematic Programme will continue to run through September and October and negotiations have begun with Stellenbosch University to extend the number of schools that participate in the programme from the existing one hundred and twenty (120) schools.

Learners are encouraged to ask their district office or school for more information on the tutoring programmes and telematics programme.

As part of our Grade 12 campaign, Grade 12s were given a 'Tips for Success' booklet at the beginning of the second term. We urge our Grade 12s to use this booklet, which provides them with information on how to plan their revision programme, tips on how to study, how to remember what they have studied and how to write examinations successfully.

It also provides subject specific study guides and tips. We encourage our Grade 12s to use this booklet by ticking off what they know and identify areas where they feel they are weak on and need improvement.

At the beginning of the third term, the WCED provided specific schools with extra past examination papers. We also ensured that all our Grade 12s received the necessary textbooks for major subjects in our Grade 12 'top-up' programme. Again, Grade 12s are encouraged to use these past examination papers and textbooks for revision purposes, as well as, consult the WCED website for extra content and support.

The WCED is also in the process of identifying suitable sites for Grade 12s in affected areas where they can study in a safe and secure location

I must stress, that the WCED's district management will continue to monitor our Grade 12s vigorously and will institute contingency measures where appropriate.

We will do all we can to ensure that the Grade 12 learners will, as far as possible, be isolated from any negative impact of the industrial action.

Support material for learners and schools.

Included in the WCED's strike plan is the provision of learning materials to learners so that they can continue reading, writing and calculating during this period.

Generic workbooks across the phases (Mathematics and Reading texts) will be made available to schools using the WCED's Edulis buses, libraries and resource centres.

We are also looking at available materials that are aimed at revision, such as the CRAM workbook. We are considering distributing copies of these workbooks to areas most affected.

Schools will be provided with timetables of the current SABC radio learning programmes on the popular radio stations. Community radio stations will broadcast lessons from expert teachers from 23 August to the end September 2010.

Key messages will be relayed that emphasize the need for learners to continue reading, writing and calculating each day.

CDs and DVDs will be made available to schools covering specific subjects across the phases.

As mentioned above, the WCED is currently negotiating with Stellenbosch University on extending the Telematics Programme. This extension will also include programmes for Grade 10 and 11.

Learners will be invited to attend one of the current one hundred and twenty (120) sites.

Telematics lessons have also been recorded on DVDs. A list of sites, times of lessons and catalogue of lessons on DVD will be made available to schools.

We also encourage our learners to watch educational programmes on television (TV). Lessons using this kind of medium are available on DSTV (MINDSET) and SABC 1. Timetables will be sent to schools.

The WCED have also sourced quotations from Newspaper Houses for printing and distributing past study materials to schools from 23 August.

Extensive reading lists for learners of all ages have been prepared which cover the three official languages of the Western Cape and are available on the WCED web site (http://wced.wcape.gov.za - see "information for parents"). The books are generally available in school and public libraries.

The Communications Directorate will continue to upload generic learning material on the WCED website for accessing by learners.

Learners and parents are encouraged to contact their schools for more information on the extra learning resources on Monday, 23 August 2010.

Strike Monitoring

Management arrangements are in place to monitor the attendance of both educators and learners during the industrial strike action. Daily reports will be submitted to district offices and then head office which will allow the WCED to actively assess the impact of the strike in different areas and at specific schools.

The monitoring of the impact of the strike will inform the number and nature of materials to be provided to affected schools.