A workshop will be taking place on the development of LTSM material on the Three Stream Model (Occupational and Vocational Orientated Subjects) at Birchwood Conference Centre in the Gauteng Province from 10 –15 June 2022. A second such workshop is anticipated to take place from 13 – 17 July. 

Approximately 15 DBE officials and 45 Subject Specialists from Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) will be brainstorming the development of the outstanding, non-completed LTSM for year 1 to 4 Occupational and Grades 8 and 9 Vocational Orientated subjects. As a limited number of subject specialists are available in certain subjects, teachers will also be providing assistance during the workshops. Another objective of the two workshops is to infuse feedback from Umalusi to the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) for the Vocational Orientated and Occupational Subjects. 

Each of the subjects is required to consist of four documents per grade: a Learner Guide; a Teacher Guide; Practical Assessment; and Assessment Guideline booklets. Much work has already been done to complete most of the material; however, the outstanding, non-completed subjects are: Digital Technology (year 3 and 4); Arts and Crafts (year 3 and 4); Hospitality Studies (year 3); Ancillary Health Care (year 3 and 4); Consumer Studies: Food Production (year 3 and 4); and Beauty and Nail Technology (year 3 and 4). In terms of Fundamental subjects (years 1 to 4) Life Skills; Mathematics and Home Languages still require further development. The process of developing Fundamental subjects commenced late, with year 3 and 4 still outstanding. The funding for the project has been made available by the European Union (EU) under the Education and Employability Programme.

Mr Seliki Tlhabane, Chief Director for MST and Curriculum Enhancement Programmes, explained that, “in line with Skills for a Changing World, the sector is introducing new subjects such as Coding and Robotics; the Three Stream Model (Occupational and Vocational Orientated Subjects); and Focus Schools with targets set for each MST Subject (Grade R-12), prioritising exit grades in all 22 subjects to improve participation and performance of MST subjects. Other interventions include the establishment of MST Directorates and Institutes in provinces and the continuous review of MST curriculum offerings responding to the skills required for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in both GET and FET; the introduction of skills required for the 21st Century in line with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Teacher Development; and relevant intervention programmes to improve participation and performance”.