×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Teachers in the dark

Canaan Mdletshe

Canaan Mdletshe

The majority of teachers in KwaZulu-Natal are not ready to teach the new school curriculum.

This emerged at a three-day curriculum and assessment conference held in Durban.

The conference started on Wednesday and ends today.

Peggy Msimango of the Ikhwezi In-service Training - an organisation offering training to teachers in the province - said from the number of calls they have been receiving, it is clear that teachers are battling to deal with the changes in the education system.

"We need to come up with more than just three-day conference interventions.

"The problem out there is big. If it not addressed, we are facing a crisis. This new curriculum is doomed to fail," she said.

She said most of the teachers have complained about not understanding the content of the new curriculum, so they would therefore find it difficult to teach it.

"They said they were never given enough time to grasp it, yet it would be implemented next year. They said they would be ready to teach it in two year's time," said Msimango.

Provincial education superintendent-general Cassius Lubisi said for the curriculum to succeed, it was important that greater emphasis was put on teacher development - on improving subject content knowledge.

"We also need to provide the necessary learning resources to disadvantaged schools. In this province, 57percent of the schools don't have specialists in subjects such as mathematics, though they are supposed to," Lubisi said.

He said that it was vital that teachers at the foundation stages strengthen their knowledge of teaching and learning.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.