The provincial engagement with the Western Cape Province was chaired by Mr Salie Faker, Acting DDG for Teachers, Education, Human Resources and Institutional Development on 18 October 2024; however, DG Mweli also joined the session to deliver a few words of motivation and encouragement ahead of the commencement of the NSC examinations.
The HoD of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Mr Brent Walters, used the opportunity to express his gratitude to the DG for visiting the province as part of the Last Push Learner Support Programme, saying that both learners and officials benefitted from the support provided.
As with the other provincial engagements, an overview of learner performance for Terms 1 – 3 was provided across all subjects and grades by Mr Bertram Loriston and his team. Afrikaans and English Home Languages remain a challenge, as well as Mathematics, but the assurance was given that learners are being supported until the final paper has been written.
Ms Karin Dudley presented the progress on Reading and Literacy saying that, “the provincial Reading Strategy (2020 – 2025) was in the process of being reviewed, along with the alignment of its six pillars with the DBE’s national strategy. In respect of Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education (MTbBE), meetings were conducted with principals and circuit managers on the 176 schools that have been identified for implementation in 2025. The printing of Mathematics LTSM will commence in November 2024, and a submission has been approved to version Back on Track content for Mathematics into isiXhosa. We are in collaboration with the University of the Western Cape for Natural Sciences and Technology materials. Subject Advisor capacity remains a challenge; however, two lead teachers who are proficient in these subjects, per district have been identified to assist”.
On Early Childhood Development (ECD), the province reported that the introduction of the Bana Pele Mass Registration Drive has been completed, along with the onboarding of officials and the development of a concept note, implementation plan and the registration of 2,000 practitioners. In addition, a total of 4,215 ECD Practitioners have been trained on the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). In an effort to expand access to education for all learners, a total of 81 learners from special care centres have been placed in schools during the 2024 academic year.
The province reported that it has cautiously implemented the Three Stream Model pilot in specific focus schools. There is evidence of increased enrolment in Grades 8 and 9 in the technical high schools, which will result in an increased intake in the FET band. A comprehensive career guidance programme is also offered as part of the Growth for Jobs Strategy and the province is conducting a landscaping exercise to identify the concentration of economic and industrial activities across the province to inform spatial planning and reposition curriculum offerings in schools. Currently, there is a total of 32 Focus Schools, including two maritime schools, with ongoing vocational pilot learner enrolment in 44 schools.
In conclusion, the WCED indicated its readiness for the end of year examinations and for the 2025 academic year, with a total of 122,038 learner applications received for Grades 1 and 8. Overcrowding and migration, however, remains a concern and hotspot areas have been identified, with districts actively engaged in learner placement, which will undoubtedly increase in 2025 due to late arrivals.