Multigrade education in a rural context 26 March 2019 Education conversations for the future
Multigrade education in a rural context
26 March 2019
Education conversations for the future
© Western Cape Government 2012 |
Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the
daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the
head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. It is
what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another. – Nelson Mandela
• Poorly Resourced
• Administrative overload
• Time constraints
• Lack of teacher training
• Difficulty in meeting demands of the Curriculum
© Western Cape Government 2012 |
Historical Perspective of Multigrade schools in South Africa
• Multigrade (MG) education as a necessity or choice
• More prevalent in remote rural and farming areas
• End of apartheid era (1994) – rural schools in the
most impoverished areas for the most poor
• Rural schools are synonymous with poverty and
under-achievement
West Coast Education District
Multigrade Schools
5
Cir 1 Cir 2 Cir 3 Cir 4 Cir 5
7 6 1 9 7
4
1
Total number of MG schools: 30
Total number of MG classes: 20
West Coast
Education District
Multigrade
context
Ensuring quality
education
for every child
© Western Cape Government 2012 |
The National Curriculum in South Africa
• Curriculum revision
• Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS)
• Learner-centred approach to teaching, learning and assessment
• Monograde nature of the Curriculum
SUBJECT HOURS
Home Language 6
First Additional language 5
Mathematics 6
Natural Sciences and Technology 3.5
Social Sciences 3
Life Skills Creative Arts
Physical Education Personal and Social Well-being
4
(1.5)
(1)
(1.5)
TOTAL 27.5
Instructional time in the Intermediate
Phase (Grades 4 – 6):
• Time allocated per grade, per subject
• Progression built in across grades, within the phase
• No curriculum adaptation for MG classes
© Western Cape Government 2012 |
Western Cape Education Department: Systemic Assessments
• International & National Assessments
• Western Cape Education Department (WCED): Systemic Assessments
• Mathematics and Languages
• Grade 3, 6 & 9
• Assessment items are set, administered and marked by external service provider
• Results do not count towards progression decisions at the end of the year
• Detailed analysis per school, per grade, per class group
• Findings to be used to address the gaps in competency levels
District Systemic results 2016-2018
© Western Cape Government 2012 |
Current realities in Multigrade Schools
• Teachers teach each grade at a time as if it is a monograde class
• Teaching of a lesson is at a low to average level – little differentiation
• Learner participation is poor as teachers do not effectively engage them
• Assessment regarded as a “once-off event” – to evaluate instead of enhancing learning
• Seating plan in rows
• Textbook driven
• Chalk and talk methods
Teacher professional development
Professional Learning Communities
Recruitment, induction & Retention
Learner self-esteem, learner direction & learner
self-regulation
Parental involvement
Strategic partnerships
Focus on intellectual quality
Language in the Mathematics classroom
Assessment to enhance teaching and learning
A quality classroom environment
Interpret policy properly
Reflective practice at school level
Reflective practice at district level
Reflective practice at HO level
Advocate importance of the strategy and the subject
Acquire appropriate facilities/resources
Use resources effectively
Use e-learning to deepen knowledge
Use e-learning to deepen understanding
[Agents] [Process]
[Structure][Reflection]
Provincial – Mathematics & Language strategy (2015 – 2019)
PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT
USE OF PRODUCTIVE PEDAGOGIES
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
RESOURCE/FACILITY PROVISION AND USE
© Western Cape Government 2012 |
National & Provincial initiatives
• Adaptation to the Curriculum: integration of content and skills
• Provincial Multigrade Reference group
• Rural Education Policy (draft framework)
• Toolkit
Annual Teaching plan: guideline for Teaching, Learning & Assessment
Lesson Plans: guidelines with suggested methodologies & pedagogies
Adapted Programme of Assessment
• Exemplar Assessment Tasks
No child
will be left behind
Thank you
Dankie
Enkosi