During the provincial engagement meeting with the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) on 13 February, the HoD, Mr Edward Mosuwe, expressed his confidence that the session will assist in ensuring that the Class of 2023 will improve their performance based on lessons learned during 2022 for learners to receive an equal opportunity for a bright and promising future. Adv Allison Bengtson, GDE DDG for Curriculum, Management and Delivery, led the presentation on behalf of the province.

Ms Antionette Nicolaai, Acting Chief Director said, “In 2023, we will strengthen support, monitoring and accountability across the system to the classroom level. In addition, all resources will be optimised to lead to improved outcomes. This year, we aim to be the number one performing province with a 90% pass rate, 50% bachelors pass rate, 7% distinction pass rate and 80% inclusive basket at FET level. At GET level, we are striving to be number one in all national and international assessments, an 85% pass rate in all subjects, with the exception of home languages, and a 50% subject average for all subjects.”

The GDE will be focusing on a whole school approach, centred around three focus areas: leading, planning and teaching for learning. For leading for learning, the province will be zooming into management, governance, communication, parents and the community. When planning for learning, infrastructure, school safety, security and discipline should be included. Teaching for learning, speaks to the quality of the educator, teacher development and teacher provisioning, resources and learner achievement. In addition, we are returning to the basics and the five Ts of Teaching: Time, Textbooks, Testing, Time Tabling and Technology for ICT integration. Focus areas include: the analysis of data to inform planning and intervention; whole school functionality; curriculum and assessment support and teacher development; monitoring support, development and reporting; accountability; stakeholder participation and involvement; management structures to support improved performance and interventions aligned to the focus areas in the branch. The GDE expressed its satisfaction with the increased number of learners from townships writing the NSC examination, as well as the increased throughput rates. The province also presented the profile of the Class of 2023, saying that these learners were the fourth cohort affected by COVID, and were exposed to a trimmed curriculum and rotational attendance in Grades 9, 10 and 11 and the adjustment of assessments. Mathematics, Literacy and Numeracy remain challenging and teachers and principals should be held accountable for targets to be reached.

Adv Bengtson expressed her appreciation to the DG for convening the annual engagement sessions, and expressed the province’s commitment towards improving the inclusive basket of performance criteria. “We will be looking at targets for improving Mathematics, Physical Science, and Accounting participation. Although the participation rates for technical subjects have increased, budget remain a challenge, and a grant of R150 million from the Gauteng Finance Department over a three-year period, will assist to recapitalise technical high schools. A total of 20 schools have been identified to replenish and refurbish their workshops, along with a curriculum-based programme. There is approximately 124 full technical high schools and schools offering technical subjects in the province; however, the participation rate must be increased. In addition, the Gauteng Health Department is embarking on a vaccination campaign for children from 6 months to 15 years to be vaccinated in schools and ECD Centres to control the spread of measles in the province.

DG Mweli, in his closing remarks, congratulated the province on the excellent work done thus far. “We convene in this manner to confirm the goals and objectives for 2023 in line with international, continental, regional and national commitments made”. He reiterated the firm foundation that must be laid through ECD programmes and the Foundation Phase, and not only strive for improved learner performance in the higher grades and Grade 12, in particular.