In 2022, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced that they would be introducing 38 new occupational and vocational school subjects to improve the quality of education learners were receiving. This will be achieved through the Three Stream Model.
South Africa’s Current Curriculum
The current curriculum, which focuses mainly on an academic and theoretical approach to learning, does not cater to all learners. The majority of pupils learn best through a hands-on approach to education. This is why more technical and vocational subjects will be introduced.
As South Africa’s current approach to education is not benefitting a large percentage of students, it has led to high dropout rates which goes hand-in-hand with high levels of youth unemployment.
The world is ever-changing, and so is in the world of work. This means that the curriculum needs to be updated so that learners are being taught relevant content that will set them up for success when they enter the Post School Education and Training sector (PSET) and the workforce.
The New Three Streams Model
The Three Streams Curriculum Model groups new and current subjects into three streams; the academic stream, the technical vocational stream and the occupational stream. The primary difference between these streams is the amount of theoretical and practical learning that will take place.
The vocational stream will consist of 75% practical training and 25% of theoretical learning. This stream will prepare learners for professional learning and work in the Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector and is broadly aligned to a specific vocation or profession such as engineering, agriculture and art.
The occupational stream aims to prepare learners for the world of work and specifically aligns to an occupation. Students will typically work in trades and become operators or technicians.
26 occupational subjects and 12 vocational subjects are to be introduced. This includes technical, agricultural, and vocational skills subjects and schools of skills.
The Purpose Of The Three Stream Model
This new model aims to change the face of the basic education sector and allows learners to focus on the type of education that best suits them. Learners who are more practical are able to develop necessary skills and focus on their strengths, enabling them to follow a career path that they can succeed in.
The purpose of the model is to harness children's abilities by creating pathways that are going to support them and help them enter the job market by increasing their employability. Overtime, this should also assist in decreasing the dropout rate.
Teacher And Subject Advisor Training
The Department has been moving through the country to ensure that teachers and subject advisors are equipped with the knowledge and skills to confidently implement the Three Stream Model. In Mpumalanga, teachers at schools of skills that offer technical and occupational subjects have been attending training since the beginning of the week.
The new curriculum model is scheduled to be fully implemented by 2025.
