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Final Push ahead of the 2019 NSC Exams

The Northern Cape Department of Education (NCDOE) has identified the following interventions as key to its last push programme: Spring Academic Camps, Whole School-Day Teaching, Lock-In Sessions and Structured Programme.

Spring Academic Camps

This coming school holiday, 3983 Grade 12 learners in the 5 education districts will take part in the NCDoE’s Spring Camp programme.  The programme is designed to consolidate content and harness the learners’ academic potential to produce the quality pass rates needed to further their studies after completing matric.  The Spring Camps provide extra lessons to improve the learners’ performance in all the mainstream subjects. A particular focus is placed on challenging topics that learners struggle to comprehend and master during the normal teaching period.  Learners are also offered life skills counselling and career information to help them make wise and appropriate career choices.

A variety of focus camps are on offer to learners who struggle in specific academic areas, or for learners who demonstrate exceptional academic abilities in core areas. Specialisation camps are also offered to learners offering Technical Mathematics, Technical Sciences, Engineering Graphics and Design and Agricultural Science. Catering for a larger array of learner populations, will allow learners to interact with peers with different backgrounds, experiences, and personalities. These unique experiences will strengthen peer learning and increase the skills required for effective communication, co-operation, and interaction. Various partners have teamed-up with the NCDoE in this programme, namely: Department of Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University, SIOC-cdt and the JTG Development Trust.

Camps consist of performance-enhancement classes aimed at dealing with challenging topics that learners struggled to comprehend and master during the normal teaching period.  The NCDoE is confident that the focus on academic instruction will result in learners enhancing their cognitive skills and abilities. The performance in the quarterly tests and the half-yearly examinations set the basis for these classes. 

Classes have been arranged at 22 centres in all five Districts. High enrolment subjects such as Life Sciences, Geography and Mathematical Literacy seem to be the favourites among learners with 2297 learners enrolling for Life Sciences, 1768 for Geography and 2136 for Mathematical Literacy.

Whole School-Day Teaching

In partnership with the JTG Development Trust, the NCDoE will be supporting close to 1000 learners through Whole School-Day Teaching.  The intervention is designed to strengthen teaching and revision by deploying Provincial and District Curriculum officials to assist novice and struggling teachers at identified schools in identified subjects based on learner performance.  Results of the mid-year examination suggest that schools with high enrolment requires a team-based teaching model with a focus on specific content.  The Whole School-Day teaching intervention is uniquely suited for that and will provide students with engaging intervention activities and lessons to adequately prepare them for the 2019 NSC Examination.  The intervention will run for 2 weeks in the 4th term.

Lock-In Sessions

Learners from identified schools offering identified subjects will be incubated over weekends where they participate in intense revision and consolidation of ONE subject for the duration of the session.  The content to be covered is identified through the provincial diagnostic processes.  A high premium is placed on critical thinking and problem-solving methodologies.  Close to 1000 learners will benefit from the intervention.

Structured Programme

Identified schools to conduct an extraordinary last push revision programme in selected subjects.  A structured time-table which outlines time slots per subject per day as well as topics to be covered to be developed by schools and approved by Circuit Managers to ensure that learners attend these critical sessions.  The programme aims to provide much-needed revision and consolidation of subject content by specially selected performing teachers and Subject Advisors.

The Northern Cape Department of Education is confident that an investment into these Matric intervention programmes will ensure improved learner outcomes in the Province. We further appeal to all Grade 12 parents to send your child to these intervention programmes as it will assist them in their preparation for the final examination.

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