President Cyril Ramaphosa has renewed calls for stronger support in every classroom, stressing the need for a coherent curriculum, well-trained teachers, and quality, age-appropriate learning materials. Addressing the Basic Education Sector Lekgotla in Boksburg, Gauteng, the president said the government is intensifying its focus on evidence-based teaching, particularly in literacy and numeracy, to reduce repetition, learner drop-out rates, and weak progression through the school system.
Ramaphosa emphasised that investing in foundational learning is key to building a resilient education system and preparing children for the demands of a rapidly changing world.
“We are intensifying our focus on evidence-based teaching of literacy and numeracy. By investing in foundational learning, we are building a resilient education system and equipping every child with the skills needed to thrive,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Basic Education has introduced the Early Grade Learning Assessment to determine whether children are ready for school. The department says the initiative will strengthen literacy and numeracy outcomes from the foundation phase by identifying learning gaps early.
Speaking at the Lekgotla, Basic Education Director-General Hubert Mweli said learners will now be assessed in grades three, six, and nine to track their academic progress more effectively. He added that the department’s focus on early childhood development extends beyond formal schooling to the first thousand days of a child’s life.
“The first thing is to check whether children are school-ready. We’ve now introduced early grade learning assessment to help us determine whether learners are ready for schooling or not. We can no longer wait until Grade R; we have to build that foundation early,” Mweli said.
Government believes these measures will help strengthen the education system and improve learner outcomes nationwide.
VOC News
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