Minister Grant Announces Key Learning Supplement

"The WCED is currently implementing a comprehensive strike management plan, to minimise the effects of the current industrial action on learners. A major part of this plan is to provide support material to learners, especially to Grade 12s, so that they continue to learn, even if there is no teacher in the classroom," Provincial Education Minister Donald Grant, said on Thursday.

In this context, Die Burger, the Cape Argus and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) are working together to provide learning support materials to learners across the province.

"I encourage learners to take full advantage of these supplements, to use them in school and for revision purposes outside school," Minister Grant said.

The materials include a 24-page supplement that will be published in the Argus today and Die Burger tomorrow, the supplement includes examples of matric papers in key subjects for Grade 12s.

The supplement also includes reading lists for learners in all grades. The WCED is encouraging parents to ensure that their children read, write and practise mathematics every day.

The matric papers include subjects taken by most Grade 12s. The subjects covered are:

• Accountancy
• Geography
• Life Sciences
• Mathematics
• Mathematical Literacy
• Physical Sciences
• Business Studies

"I encourage matrics at all schools to work through the papers to get an idea of the standard expected in the exams. Learners can download more matric papers and marking memoranda from the WCED web site at http://wced.wcape.gov.za. It is absolutely essential in these difficult times that learners take responsibility for their own futures and do everything to access the material that is being made available to them," Minister Grant said.

"Working through old matric papers forms an essential part of matric revision. Learners get a very good idea of their strengths and weaknesses, and what to do to adjust their study plans accordingly," Minister Grant added.

EDULIS, the school library support service of the WCED, prepared the reading lists to promote holiday and leisure-time reading. The WCED believes they also provide a useful guide to reading for children affected by the strike.

WCED librarians selected books that they believe will help to build a love of reading. The lists include books in Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa and are divided into the following phases:

• Foundation (Grades R to 3)
• Intermediate (Grades 4 to 6)
• Senior (Grades 7 - 9)
• Further Education and Training (FET, Grades 10 - 12)

Die Burger is printing 30 000 extra copies of the supplement and will distribute these to schools as part of its "Koerante in the Klaskamer" campaign.

Die Burger has also provided electronic copies of the popular "Leer en Presteer" education supplements to the WCED.

The entertaining supplements, which appear regularly in Die Burger, provide a vast amount of colourful, self-learning materials that can be used at home or at school, in all subjects from Grades R to 12.

The WCED is producing professionally copied and labeled CDs of the supplements and will distribute these to schools and other agencies, as required.

The department is producing two version of the CD, in English and Afrikaans, using "Leer and Presteer" and its English counterpart, "Learn and Achieve".

Meanwhile, the WCED has has published a comprehensive study guide for matrics called "Tips for Success".

The department distributed the study guide to matrics throughout the province during the second school term of 2010. The publication is also available on the WCED's web site at http://wced.wcape.gov.za.

The study guide includes:

• Advice on preparing for exams.
• Advice on planning study time.
• A template for planning study time.
• Advice from matriculants who have achieved excellent results.
• Advice on studying for each subject.
• Study checklists for each subject.
• Advice on writing exams.
• Information on bursaries and loans for further study.

The WCED launched a campaign called "Own your future. Own your success. Study hard to pass your matric" to promote the advice given in the study guide.

The WCED and the University of Stellenbosch are broadcasting lessons via satellite to matrics at 120 high schools across the province.

The WCED is collaborating with the university's Division of Telematic Services to provide the service.

Curriculum specialists broadcast lessons from a studio at the university several times a week in selected subjects. Learners can interact with the presenters via cell phones and the internet.

The WCED is negotiating with the division to expand the service to Grades 10 and 11, depending on the extent of the public service strike, and has advised schools to learners from Grades 10, 11 and 12 to attend lessons at their nearest Telematics school, if necessary.

"There is still time for matrics to plan their study time carefully as the National Senior Certificate exams approach in mid-October 2010. Ultimately, success will depend on consistent study, according to each individual study plan," Minister Grant added.