SADTU`S response to the recommendations of the National Curriculum statement Review Panel
20 October 2009
SADTU welcomes the recommendations by the National Curriculum Implementation Review Committee. The recommendations will benefit both the learners and teachers and improve the quality of teaching and learning. SADTU would like to urgently engage the department of education on these recommendations before implementation in 2010.
We welcome the reduction of the number of subjects in the Intermediate Phase (Grade 4 to 6) from 8 to 6. This reduction of learning areas and content will enable teachers to focus on developing deeper conceptual understanding than was previously possible. In addition, the number of assessments will also be reduced making more time available for quality teaching and learning. The notion of integration which is a principle of NQF will be promoted by combining learning areas.
The discontinuation of learner portfolios will also give learners and teachers more time to focus on other more educationally beneficial day to day classroom activities.
The relationship between textbooks and quality education require deeper engagement. Schools need few good quality textbooks. For primary schools the content load needs to be reduced. We also call for more quality books to be produced in indigenous languages.
SADTU looks forward to engaging the Department of education on processes to reduce the teacher`s administrative load in relationship to planning and assessment. Focused plans and assessment will contribute towards improving learner performance.
SADTU has always called for more time to be allocated to languages especially in the language of instruction. Since 1994, little has been done to promote mother tongue instruction or indigenous languages in the school system and in the universities. Indigenous languages need to be developed to the level of English and Afrikaans.
SADTU would like to engage the Department of Education on these matters as soon as possible so that the implementation for some of the recommendations can take place in 2010 and teachers are given clear messages about expectations.
SADTU is the largest union in the public service with 240,000 members and represents two-thirds of teachers.
Issued by: SADTU Secretariat