For years South Africa has ranked near the bottom in global academic rankings, particularly for Maths and Science. The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown have only further devastated the education sector. While life has since returned to normal, the Government continues to blame the pandemic, while academic results remain on the decline.
Learning Losses In The Western Cape
A study rolled out by the Centre For Development and Enterprise (CDE) found that South Africa's public schools are the biggest learning under-performer relative to GDP per capita among low and middle-income countries. The Government has denied this, stating that these results are likely unbalanced.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) regularly tests the mathematics and reading abilities of learners in Grades 3, 6 and 9. The latest results have shown that more than half of learners were unable to achieve a pass in these tests.
With the release of the results of the Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study 2021, similar outcomes are expected.
Teachers state that the biggest issue they are seeing among South African learners is reading for comprehension. In February 2023, it was reported that an estimated 82% of Grade 4 learners were unable to read for meaning in any language.
We have to act, and we have to act decisively, and we have to act in a way that has impact in order to deal with what is a full-blown learning crisis.
Department Intervention Programme
In response to the education crisis, the WCED has launched a R1.2 billion "#BackOnTrack" programme in an effort improve education outcomes in the province.
A total of 333 schools, over 126,000 pupils, together with 9,000 teachers have been identified to participate in this #BackOnTrack programme. This intervention plan will be focusing mainly on learners in Grades 4, 7 and 8. Learners participating in this programme will be attending classes on weekends and educators will receive additional teacher training every 10 days.
Other learners participating include all learners in Foundation Phase, as well as Grade 10 and 12 learners.
This #BackOnTrack programme has been implemented in addition to the 1,100 schools that are currently receiving extra support in Foundation Phase learning.
The programme will be closely monitored, feedback will be considered and challenges will be dealt with in a bid to gradually recover learning losses and improve the state of education in the Western Cape.
Every two weeks, officials from across the Western Cape will be providing updates and feedback, and working together to resolve any challenges.
