The Department of Basic Education (DBE) recently convened a four-day Physical Sciences Material Development Workshop, bringing together Provincial Subject Advisors, curriculum specialists and Physical Sciences experts from various provinces to collaboratively develop high-quality curriculum support materials aimed at improving learner performance in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
The workshop formed part of the Department's ongoing commitment towards strengthening the quality of teaching and learning in Physical Sciences by equipping teachers with curriculum-aligned resources that support deeper conceptual understanding and improved learner achievement. Guided by the theme: “Beyond 80%, Breaking the Ceiling," participants focused on developing learning materials specifically designed to help learners move beyond minimum competency towards excellence.
Throughout the four-day programme, delegates engaged in intensive collaborative sessions to review learner performance trends, analyse diagnostic reports, and refine support materials that address common learner comprehension challenges while promoting higher-order thinking and critical thinking skills. Participants also worked towards developing a standardised template for learner support materials to ensure consistency, quality and alignment with the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) across all provinces.
Addressing participants, Dr Aaron Nkosi, Acting Chief Director, National institute and Curriculum and Professional Development (NICPD), emphasised that the workshop was about developing resources that will have a tangible impact on learner performance. He highlighted that the materials being developed should directly support the Department's strategic objectives, saying, "The material that we are developing must produce the results we want to achieve." He further encouraged participants to develop high-quality, standardised resources that will strengthen classroom teaching and support more learners to achieve beyond 80% in Physical Sciences.
The DBE remains committed to supporting teachers through the development of high-quality curriculum resources that strengthen classroom teaching, enhance learner understanding of key scientific concepts and contribute to improved performance in the NSC examinations. The outcomes of the workshop will inform the finalisation of learner support materials that will be made available to schools as part of the Department's broader strategy to improve achievement in Physical Sciences nationally.