Community Radio Stations Provide Virtual Matric Revision Classes

Statement by Education Minister Cameron Dugmore

Eleven community radio stations will start providing virtual matric revision classes tonight, in conjunction with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and the Government Communication and Information Service (GCIS).

Earlier I have initiated a meeting with community radio stations to discuss support for the Matric 2007 Revision Programme of the WCED. Eleven community stations have agreed to take part in the project.

They will link up with revision classes organised by the WCED at the parliamentary studios of the GCIS in Cape Town. The live broadcasts will take place between 6 and 7pm from Monday to Thursday every week, until late in October. The dates of the final programmes are still being finalised.

Some radio stations will broadcast the sessions live, while others will record them for separate programming and will announce the times of the sessions on air.

The Matric 2007 Revision Programme marks an important moment in learner support. It is the first time that the WCED has organised this kind of support on this scale, which amounts to a virtual classroom on air, covering almost the whole province.

Subject advisers and other specialists will guide revision on key matric subjects for about half an hour before dealing with questions.

Learners and teachers can email questions to matric07@pgwc.gov.za, or phone in to a toll-free line, 0800-314-446 during broadcast times, from 6 to 7pm from Monday to Thursday each week.

The WCED will provide details to schools on the schedule, which is expected to continue for eight weeks.

Tonight subject specialists, Phumla Satyo and Rugaya Jakoet will kick off with English Paper 1.

The sessions will cover Afrikaans Vraestel 1 on Wednesday, 12 September, and English Paper 2 on 13 September. Other subjects covered during the following weeks will include Biology, Geography, Mathematics, Business Economics, isiXhosa, History, Physical Science, Accounting, Economics, Mathematics, and Geography.

The participating radio stations are: Radio 786 (100.4); Voice of the Cape (95.8/100.4); Bush Radio (89.5); Radio CCFM (96.7/107.5); Radio Zibonele (98.2); Radio Tygerberg (104); Radio Atlantis (107.9); Radio West Coast (92.3); Valley FM (88.8); Radio KC (107.7); Eden FM (90.1/103.6) and Klein Karoo (87.8).

We thank the community radio stations for being so willing to join us in this project and for all the support of the GCIS. We are also very grateful for all the work that our subject specialists are putting into the revision classes. This is a great example of people pulling together to provide opportunities for learning by the young people of the Western Cape.

Meanwhile, the WCED has published the final matric exam timetable on its web site at http://wced.wcape.gov.za. The site also includes copies of previous exam papers and marking memos.

For Enquiries:

Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Cell: 082 550 3938
Fax: 021 425 5689
Email: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za

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