CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADERS
Writer: More Matshediso
Basic education on track for post-COVID-19 recovery
A
fter being hard-hit
including social media
by the Cornoa-
apps such as Facebook,
virus (COVID-19)
to reach out to learners
pandemic, the Depart-
and to respond to sub-
ment of Basic Education
ject-related questions.
is looking to innovate in
Going forward, teach-
2021 to ensure further re-
ing plans that will ad-
covery from the setbacks
dress teaching overload
of 2020.
are being developed.
One the things that
“Redundant content
will be done differently
and concepts will be
in 2021 is the scrapping
omitted from the curricu-
of June examinations,
lum,” she explains. “The first few days of
which will be replaced with controlled tests,
schooling in 2021 will
Basic Education Minister
be dedicated to revi-
Angie Motshekga tells
sion and consolidation
PSM.
of concepts from the
She says the time that
previous grades. The
would have been set
teaching plans are part
aside for the administra-
of a three-year recovery
tion of the June exami-
plan, which will address
nations will also be used
learning losses incurred
as additional teaching
stations, the internet and
with various stakeholders,
from the 2020 aca-
time.
mobile applications con-
is in the process of es-
demic year,” the Minister
tinue to be developed
tablishing broadcasting
adds.
collaborations with part-
and improved for learn-
studios in each district.
ners such as the Nation-
ers to watch after school
al Education Collabora-
or on weekends.
In addition, ongoing
tion Trust will ensure that
The Department of
In recent years, the
Rolling out ICT
DBE has invested in the
Minister Motshekga
curation of video lessons
says the technological
the content produced
Basic Education (DBE),
and the utilisation of
changes that have al-
for television and radio
through its partnerships
various media platforms,
ready been implemented
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Public Sector Manager • December 2020/January 2021
